Travers Smith LLP has advised Reto Property Finance Limited (Reto Finance) on its £15 million investment from listed alternative investment manager, Foresight Group (Foresight). Reto Finance was launched in 2019, following a buy-out from Shawbrook International by Quilam Capital, and has since served hundreds of consumer and SME borrowers across the Channel Islands.
Reto Finance is led by CEO Adam Dawson. Under Quilam Capital and Adam’s leadership, it is increasingly becoming a go-to lender on the Channel Islands, offering a wide breadth of products to SMEs and consumers. The new investment will support the launch of a real estate development finance product and will allow it to offer increased flexibility on its existing real estate bridging product. Reto Finance was keen to develop a new product to support local property developers and consequently help to address the housing shortage in the Channel Islands. Traditionally more focused upon bridging, Reto Finance will now add this flexible development product to its offering.
The senior debt facility has been structured to suit the flexibility required by the new product. With this investment, Foresight has now committed over £165 million of capital to the alternative lending sector.
The Travers Smith team was led by Finance Partner Charles Bischoff with support from Senior Associate Daniel Domb, Associate Hannah Ramsey and Paralegal Jorja Hills.
Adam Dawson commented "We are grateful for the support of Travers Smith on this investment. This additional line of liquidity allows us to broaden our real estate offering and develop a market-leading development finance product and we look forward to playing a part in supporting the growth of the property markets in both Jersey and Guernsey."
Charles Bischoff added "With previous investment from Quilam Capital, Reto Finance has fast become a pre-eminent force in the alternative lending space. We are excited to have advised on this latest transaction that will support its further growth and look forward to seeing the impact that this new product will have on the real estate market across the Channel Islands. "
