Register to get free articles
Want unlimited access? View Plans
Already have an account? Sign in
FRP Corporate Finance has announced the appointment of asset-based lending specialist Stuart Bates as a partner in its Manchester office, strengthening its debt advisory offering.
Bates brings more than 35 years of experience in dealmaking and asset-based lending, having held senior roles across a range of lenders. He was an executive director at Centric Commercial Finance from 2008 to 2016, before the business was sold to Shawbrook.
In 2016, he co-founded Praetura Commercial Finance, where he led the origination team and helped deploy more than £500m of funding.
In his new role, Bates will work with colleagues across FRP’s national office network, advising clients on funding for growth, acquisitions, carve-outs and refinancings. The firm said he would draw on his experience of structuring complex funding arrangements and his technical knowledge of asset-based lending.
Bates said: “Having spent my career managing lending conversations, I’ve seen the value that expert advice adds when it comes to bridging differing perspectives – sometimes turning an initial ‘no’ into a ‘yes’.
“It remains an environment where lenders continue to be highly selective in their decisions, and it’s therefore particularly important that firms have this type of expert advice to hand. FRP has a strong reputation for practical solutions to what can often be complex challenges, and its national reach makes this a particularly exciting opportunity.”
Martyn Rickels, restructuring partner at FRP, said: “Stuart’s understanding of how funders assess risk and opportunity will be invaluable to our clients. His arrival underlines our commitment to helping our clients build real resilience and create lasting value through integrated advisory.
Simon Sherliker, debt advisory partner at FRP Corporate Finance, added: “We are delighted to be further strengthening asset-based lending debt advisory capabilities at FRP, enhancing our ability to support private equity and corporate clients with a full suite of funding solutions across the UK.”
