Saffery collaborates with Trethowans to advise on major acquisition of Dorset-based Catalyst Property Finance

Saffery and law firm Trethowans have played key roles in the successful sale of Catalyst Property Finance to The FHL Group, a sister company of Foundation Home Loans.

About the transaction

The transaction marks a significant milestone for Catalyst, a Dorset-based specialist lender, which will continue to operate under its existing brand with no changes to its operations or team. The acquisition is set to enhance Catalyst’s funding capabilities, enabling greater product innovation and sharper pricing for its broker network.

How we helped

As long-standing advisers to Catalyst, we’re delighted to have supported its team throughout this transaction. The team, led by Roger Wareham (Partner and Head of our Bournemouth office) with support from Hemal Pandit (Transaction Services Director), Richard Meller (Corporate Tax Director), Mark Kilbey (Accounts Director) and Matt Trowbridge (Accounts Senior Manager), provided financial due diligence and sell-side support.

Trethowans’ corporate team provided legal advice to the vendors on the deal, with Mark Nixon (Partner), Amrita Sangha (Associate) and Konnie Willett (Solicitor) providing full corporate legal support.

Roger Wareham, Partner and Head of our Bournemouth office, commented: “It has been great to see the hard work of Chris and his team recognised, allowing Catalyst to be taken to its next exciting phase. To support a local business through their journey is what makes our job so rewarding. Mark and the team at Trethowans provided excellent support throughout the evolving structuring and process.”

Hemal Pandit, our Transaction Services Director, added: “This transaction is a great advert for Dorset and underlines the quality of businesses and professional advisers in the region. It was a pleasure supporting Chris and Catalyst team and working closely with Trethowans to bring about the successful completion of a great transaction.”

Chris Fairfax, CEO of Catalyst Property Finance, commented: “Establishing Catalyst as a leading name in specialist finance has been an immense privilege. From a standing start in 2017, driven by a passion to challenge convention, we have successfully lent over £600 million with exceptional profitability every year. The acquisition marks a pivotal moment; The FHL Group shares our vision for the future, and their backing provides the crucial funding we need to deliver upon our ambitious plans.

“I want to sincerely thank the highly professional advisory teams at Trethowans and Saffery for their expert guidance; their support was instrumental in securing this transaction and setting us up for future success.”

Mark Nixon, Partner at Trethowans, concluded: “This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when local expertise comes together to support a thriving Dorset business. It’s been a privilege to work alongside Catalyst and Saffery on this transaction. As a firm rooted in the region, we are proud to help showcase the strength and capability that exists right here in Dorset, supporting ambitious businesses as they scale and succeed.”

This transaction underscores the strength and depth of Trethowans and Saffery in delivering high-quality legal and financial advisory services on complex, high-value deals, right from the heart of Dorset.

We provide transaction support to clients across a range of sectors, whether that’s buying, selling, raising debt or preparing for exit. More information is available on previous transactions we have worked on.