LHV UK starts issuing SME loans in the UK
20 December 2022 - 2:01AM
LHV UK starts issuing SME loans in the UK
LHV UK Limited, a subsidiary of AS LHV Group, was registered in
the Financial Conduct Authority's financial services register on 29
November 2022 and thereby gained the right to start issuing SME
loans in the United Kingdom. On 19 December 2022, LHV UK's Board
approved commencing loan activities.
As of today, LHV UK started issuing SME loans in the UK.
Commercial term loans starting from the amount of 0.5 million
pounds will are aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
and secured by commercial real estate and other guarantees.
The acquisition of Manchester-based Bank North’s loan business
in October provided a strong platform for commencing the loan
activity. As a result of the transaction, LHV UK acquired an SME
loan portfolio of approximately £17.9 million, 20 sales and
customer service, credit analysis and IT employees, modern loan
management software and cooperation agreements with major loan
brokers.
LHV UK's main sales channel for business loans are loan brokers.
Lending operations will begin in and around Manchester, but in the
future, there are plans to create an additional sales and customer
service team in London.
Comments by Madis Toomsalu, CEO of LHV Group:
"Lending to enterprises has been the core business activity of LHV.
We are beginning our loan activity now because we believe a new
entrant can grow a lending business against such strong demand. Our
strengths are a faster lending process and loan managers with
long-term experience who understand the needs of local
entrepreneurs. Starting with business loans now allows us to
accelerate our current UK plans significantly."
LHV UK's growth plans in the UK are underpinned by three
business lines: providing banking services for financial
intermediaries, SME lending and banking services for e-merchants.
LHV UK is currently focused on obtaining a banking licence. LHV
UK's banking licence is subject to regulatory approval by the
Prudential Regulatory Authority and Financial Conduct Authority
LHV Group is the largest domestic financial group and capital
provider in Estonia. LHV Group’s key subsidiaries are LHV Pank, LHV
Varahaldus, and LHV Kindlustus. The Group employs more than 880
people. As at the end of November, LHV’s banking services are being
used by 374,000 clients, the pension funds managed by LHV have
131,000 active clients, and LHV Kindlustus protects a total of
150,000 clients. LHV’s UK branch offers banking infrastructure
to 200 international financial services companies, via which LHV’s
payment services reach clients around the world.
Priit Rum LHV Head of Communications Phone: 502 0786
E-mail: priit.rum@lhv.ee
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