On Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, Castelnau Group, a listed closed-ended investment company specializing in equity investments in UK small to mid-cap private companies, announced that it has secured a £65m revolving loan facility from Shawbrook.
The purpose of this facility is to refinance Castelnau’s existing loan, cover associated costs, and make significant cost savings that will support future investment opportunities. This deal is a landmark for Castelnau, as it marks the largest loan amount and day-one drawdown to date, with over 90% of the facility being drawn on the first day.
Castelnau focuses on delivering strong returns for its shareholders by investing in select UK small to mid-cap private companies. Managed by Phoenix Asset Management Partners, the company takes a long-term investment approach, prioritizing value creation by removing short-term pressures and encouraging rational capital allocation within its portfolio companies.
In order to refinance existing debt and reduce concentration risk within the business, Castelnau was introduced to Shawbrook by Ben Handler from Liberum, who was aware of the bank’s Fund Finance offering and the team’s expertise in structuring complex transactions.
Shawbrook’s Specialty and Fund Finance team delivered a record £65m 3-year revolving credit facility, with the largest initial draw for a new client to date. This innovative solution, secured against the portfolio’s net asset value, has allowed Castelnau to lower costs and optimize its capital structure for future opportunities.
Richard Brown, CEO of Castelnau Group, expressed his satisfaction with securing the facility from Shawbrook, stating, “We are extremely pleased to have secured this facility from Shawbrook, which not only reduces our ongoing costs but also helps to normalize our capital structure. Throughout the process, Ismail and the team at Shawbrook distinguished themselves by being pragmatic, commercial, and highly responsive – a partnership approach that sets them apart from traditional banking peers and delivered a great outcome for all parties involved. We look forward to broadening our commercial relationship with Shawbrook going forward.”
Ismail Farhat, Director of Specialty and Fund Finance at Shawbrook, also commented on the deal, saying, “Castelnau’s strong business model and track record gave us the confidence to structure a flexible facility for this dynamic investment company. We look forward to partnering with Castelnau’s management team as they strengthen operations and pursue further growth.”
This news was distributed by Pressat, a UK-based press release distribution company.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.