Travers Smith has advised Portman Finance Group, a leading financial distribution platform helping SME businesses access a wide range of commercial funding solutions, on the investment by private equity firm, Freshstream Investment Partners, to support its next stage of growth.
Founded in 2007 by CEO Alex Read, Portman has built a scaled platform serving businesses across the UK. The business connects SMEs with a broad range of funding solutions through a panel of more than 45 lending partners alongside its own lending activities. Over recent years, Portman has delivered strong growth while expanding its product offering beyond asset finance into a broader range of SME funding solutions.
Freshstream has invested alongside Alex Read and the wider management team, who are set to continue leading the business and retain a majority stake.
The Travers Smith team on this transaction was led by Corporate Partner Tom Coulter, supported by Senior Associate Virginia Holdenson and Associate Jamie Coupland. Management and equity advice was provided by our Private Equity & Financial Sponsors Partner Alex Dixon and Senior Associate Niki Jeropoulos.
Specialist advice at Travers Smith was also provided by Financial Services & Markets Partner Samuel Brewer and Associate James Harrison; Technology & Commercial Transactions Partner Louisa Chambers, Director Mike Ross; Senior Counsel Sarah Robinson, and Senior Associate Nick Brady; Tax Partner Hannah Manning, Senior Counsel Joe Sheldrick and Associate Claudia French; Finance Partner Adam Burk and Senior Associate Amy Taggart; Real Estate Partner Alex Millar and Associate Olivia Metcalf; and Employment Senior Counsel Marianne Parkinson and Associate Natasha Partridge.
Alex Read, Founder and CEO of Portman Finance, commented: "Travers Smith provided exceptional support throughout on what was a significant and complex transaction for Portman Finance Group. Tom and the wider team were outstanding from start to finish, combining first-class technical expertise with a commercial, pragmatic and highly responsive approach. We couldn't have asked for better advisers and I would have no hesitation in recommending them."
