Universal Leasing secures £12m investment

The North West-based asset finance specialist – which trades under the Admiral Leasing brand – hopes to use the investment to double its leasing and commercial loan capacity. 

This will allow it to support smaller businesses accessing asset finance as part of their growth plans over the next five years.

“We are delighted to have secured this additional funding and expansion capital facility from British Business Investments,” said Michael Hughes, managing director at Universal Leasing Ltd. 

“This combined facility will allow us to double the amount of funding we can make available to our varied SME customer base to support them with their future equipment and working capital requirements.”

The £12m investment is being made under the structured capital solutions facility within the commercial arm’s investment programme. 

The programme has committed £700m to providers of smaller business finance to help widen the choice of funding smaller UK businesses can find on the market.

Catherine Lewis La Torre, CEO at British Business Investments, said it supported financial innovation and diversity in asset finance.

“Our structured capital solutions facility – part of our investment programme – allows finance specialists to unlock real growth, enabling them to provide significant additional funding for smaller businesses in the UK. 

“We look forward to working with Universal Leasing Ltd over the next five years to help those businesses get the finance they need.”