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‘First-of-its-kind’ RAF deal named Environmental Finance’s top transaction

RURAL Asset Finance’s £120million deal with NatWest and the British Business Bank has been named Environmental Finance’s Sustainability-Linked Loan Of The Year!

The online news and analysis service, which focuses on developments in sustainable finance, named our agreement with NatWest Bank, BCI Capital and the British Business Bank the category’s standout transaction in its recent Sustainable Investment Awards.

Environmental Finance noted that the sustainability-linked loan provided to us was a “first-of-its-kind” transaction designed “to help farmers access finance whilst also scaling up sustainable practices within their existing businesses”.

Last summer we became only the 13th delivery partner and lender in over 10 years to be approved for the state-owned British Business Bank’s ENABLE Guarantee Scheme, set up to help smaller businesses access fair finance by providing specialist lenders with a government-backed guarantee.

Judges were particularly impressed that our agreement has a dynamic loan margin linked to the success of specific on-farm sustainability key performance indicators, including expanding renewable energy installations and adopting sustainable land, water and environmental management practices.

As importantly for us, the £120m deal has enabled us to help even more farmers needing money to enhance or add value to their UK food production, or diversify into alternative revenue streams.