SHC Capital has arranged a £33 million bridging facility for a mixed-use London property portfolio through GB Bank, completing the transaction within seven days.
The loan enabled a property investment group managing over £500 million in UK real estate assets to acquire a portfolio comprising retail and residential properties in the capital. The deal required structuring finance for multiple assets held within an offshore structure.
Speed of execution
According to Tony Tadros, director at SHC Capital, the compressed timeline was necessary due to the vendor being a publicly listed company. “When a transaction is time-sensitive, and the vendor is a PLC, it’s critical you deliver on time,” Tadros said.
The transaction comes as UK housing transactions face downward pressure due to interest rate volatility, highlighting the role of specialist finance in maintaining deal flow.
Pankaj Thukral, chief lending officer and deputy CEO at GB Bank, stated: “When we believe in a transaction, we move quickly and act decisively.” He added that the bank has “ambitious real estate lending plans” for the coming period.
Lending partnership
SHC Capital indicated it plans to complete over £100 million in transactions with GB Bank during 2025. Hardik Gogia, relationship manager at GB Bank, described the deal as demonstrating both teams’ capacity to execute complex, time-sensitive financing.
The transaction involved legal support from Simon Noono, partner at Seddons. The deal structure accommodated the portfolio’s mixed-use nature and offshore holding arrangement, factors that typically extend financing timelines.
The completion adds to activity in London’s commercial and residential property sectors, where sales volumes have declined in recent months. Bridging finance has become a key tool for investors seeking to move quickly on acquisitions in competitive market conditions.
