Sancus Finance

Sancus Lending Group is an AIM-listed alternative financial services provider specializing in property-backed lending. The company was co-founded by Andrew Whelan and John Davey in 2013 to provide alternative finance to the real estate market. Mr. Whelan, a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, brought over 25 years of investment experience from firms like Kleinwort Benson and Ermitage Group, where he was a founding partner. The business was acquired by GLI Finance in December 2014. In May 2021, reflecting a strategic focus on the property finance sector, GLI Finance rebranded to Sancus Lending Group.

The group provides bridging and development finance to a client base that includes fiduciaries, SMEs, high-net-worth individuals, property developers, and construction specialists across the UK, Ireland, and the Channel Islands. It addresses the need for fast and bespoke funding, offering an alternative to traditional banking institutions. The business operates a multi-tiered funding model, utilizing its own capital, a network of co-funders, and institutional credit facilities to finance its loan book. This structure allows Sancus to participate in every loan, aligning its interests with those of its funding partners, which include private clients, family offices, and institutions. Revenue is generated through fees and interest on loans, which range from £1 million to over £20 million.

Sancus offers tailored financing solutions for property acquisition, development, and refurbishment. Its core products are property bridging loans, which provide urgent liquidity, and development finance to fund construction projects. The company's key differentiator is its ability to handle complex lending proposals, leveraging the extensive experience of its teams in multiple jurisdictions. Since its inception, the group has provided over £1 billion in funding. Recently, Sancus expanded its credit facility with Pollen Street Capital to £200 million to support further growth. The current CEO is Rory Mepham, who joined in 2021 and has over 20 years of experience in the European property market.

Keywords: alternative finance, property lending, bridging finance, development finance, secured lending, real estate finance, asset-backed lending, SME lending, construction finance, specialist finance, co-funding, property investment, AIM-listed, UK finance, Ireland property finance, Channel Islands lending, high-net-worth lending, property developers, debt finance, corporate finance