TAB supports investment and portfolio expansion with £2.8m commercial bridge

TAB has completed a £2.8m bridging loan secured against a pair of commercial warehouses in London.

The facility will provide the borrower with capital to invest in his trading business, repay business debt and support the expansion of his property portfolio.

The £2,804,750 loan was secured on a first-charge basis with the 12-month facility advanced at 65% LTV.

The first property is an industrial unit located within an established industrial estate located off the A13.

The property is fully occupied by the borrower’s wholesale trading business which uses the premises for warehouse storage.

The second property is situated on the west side of Lewisham High Street and comprises a three-storey commercial building.

The premises includes retail space on the ground floor while the upper parts comprise commercial ancillary storage space, which is accessed from rear of the building via an external spiral staircase.

The transaction formed part of a wider funding round, with total net advances across two loans reaching approximately £3.59m.

The case involved several complications relating to the borrower’s existing property interests including a 2024 charge against one of the titles in connection with a historic dispute concerning rent on a council-owned leased property during the pandemic.

The borrower advised that the matter subsequently proceeded to court and that the disputed amount was settled in full.

Gary Melville, business development specialist at TAB (pictured above), said: "This case demonstrates the growing demand for commercial bridges that can be delivered with speed and certainty.

“I am pleased we have been able to bring some momentum to lending here.”

The proposed exit is based on the rental income generated by the secured properties.

Total market rent is estimated at £330,000 per annum.

Applying a 125% rental cover calculation gives annual debt service capacity of £264,000, while applying an assumed 9% rate produces a maximum loan value of approximately £2.93m.

This provides sufficient capacity to redeem the £2.8m bridging facility, with the market rent expected to be matched by the passing rent.

TAB's underwriting was carried out by underwriting manager Barry Richardson.

Jonathan Moffat, head of corporate finance at Clifton Personal Finance, said: “TAB were excellent in supporting a complex case and helped drive it through to completion.

“Where others stepped back, TAB took a common-sense approach and delivered.”