In Focus Commercial Credit


The importance of non-bank lending


The non-bank lending sector has rapidly become a more significant part of the market, so what are its prospects?


Matthew Potter Partner, Pollen Street Capital


Non-bank lending is an integral part of the lending landscape, providing financing to millions, including those that are underserved by high street banks. We saw a seismic shift in the industry


post-2008, with a change in the focus of traditional banks leaving a gap in the market that has since been filled by non- bank lenders. We recognise the importance of these


businesses and have focused our strategy on this growing market through providing finance, typically on a senior basis, to high- quality non-bank lenders.


What is driving non-bank lending growth? Increased capital requirements, cost pressures and legacy technology are all driving banks to narrow their focus. This is a leaving a space open for non-bank lenders.


There are also a number of longer-term


factors changing the lending market, which in turn have impacted the sector’s growth: l The majority of traditional lenders have chosen to simplify their processes following the crash of 2008, focusing on lending in areas that can use a standardised process, such as retail mortgages. l Progression of data and technology has enabled more agile businesses to offer innovative customer propositions, in a more efficient and convenient way and often at a reduced cost. l The lending market has seen an increase in seasoned underwriters and originators setting up specialised lending platforms, giving customers access to a team of experts who maintain longstanding relationships, execute and close quickly, and thus benefit from repeat business.


Specialist markets demand specific knowledge, expertise, technology systems, and processes that can be completely tailored, resulting in a high-quality lending proposition. These businesses typically perform strongly and often do not rely on scale to be successful


18


Why is specialisation so valuable in the lending sector? Non-bank lenders are specialists in specific end markets, making them critical to the credit economy – lending to millions of consumers and businesses and catering to those underserved by high street banks. Specialist markets demand specific


knowledge, expertise, technology systems, and processes that can be completely tailored, resulting in a high-quality lending proposition. These businesses typically perform


strongly and often do not rely on scale to be successful. We have seen particular growth in, and


www.CCRMagazine.com


demand for, specialist markets including working capital finance, specialist real estate, motor finance and point of sale finance.


Addressing this opportunity The already large market is growing, opening further investment opportunities. We have focused on accessing these


opportunities, lending directly to non-bank lenders. Due to the fragmented nature of the


market, most of our investments are sourced internally and negotiated bi-laterally, with the lenders often preferring to partner with a finance provider that has deep expertise and industry knowledge. It is our expertise in this market that


has driven us to develop a differentiated investment strategy. Our asset-based credit strategy provides


finance to the non-banks, predominantly on a senior basis, secured directly against their loan portfolio. Due to the granular level of the underlying


loan portfolios, they typically generate highly predictable cashflows supporting our loan repayments and providing significant downside protection. Fundamentally, our approach combines


the structuring and credit disciplines of Asset-Based Finance “ABF” with those of direct lending. The loans are fully covenanted at asset


performance and corporate level and are structurally super-senior to the majority of the business’ operational expenses.


August 2021


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52