Coming up to its first anniversary, Enterprise Finance Europe (EFE), the innovative, niche provider of invoice discounting and asset-based lending solutions is expanding with the opening of a new office in Leeds City Centre.

This latest expansion follows on from a successful launch in Manchester in March 2002, the City of London launch in June 2002 and EFE’s recent first step into Continental Europe with their Frankfurt Office established last November.

EFE’s new Leeds office has been opened with the aim of serving the growing Yorkshire and North East markets. It has recruited Chris Sellars (35) to join the Northern team to cover the Leeds and Yorkshire markets. Chris joins EFE from City Invoice Finance in Yorkshire where he was regional business development manager and previously he worked with BDO Stoy Hayward Corporate Finance in Sheffield.

Chris will be supported by Gary Davison and Judith McMath, both directors of EFE, who set up the Manchester operation last year. Both Gary and Judith were previously directors of Euro Sales Finance plc, where Judith was regional managing director for the North of England which covered the Leeds and Manchester markets.

“In a very short time, EFE has generated a significant profile in the North West,” said Sellars. “And I’m delighted to be a member of the Northern team and look forward to delivering what can only be described as a unique proposition to businesses in Leeds and the North East.

Judith McMath, regional managing director for EFE in the north commented: “The Leeds market represents a huge opportunity for EFE in terms of the type of funding we have to offer and the dynamics of the SME market in Yorkshire.”

“EFE is a solutions-driven working capital funder which operates in a niche not volume-driven market and the profile of many Yorkshire businesses in terms of their strength of management and solid strategy makes for a successful partnership.

“We are flexible and proactive in our approach to lending propositions which comes from having the advantages of a very professional, experienced and multi-skilled team coupled with being funded by a stable and reputable European bank with access to significant sources of finance.”

McMath said that in her experience, there is an extremely active and experienced professional community in Leeds and the surrounding areas with a pro-active approach to deal origination and generation.

“EFE will be actively marketing these services in the Yorkshire arena over the coming weeks and months.”

The Leeds office is located at No 1 City Square in the heart of the city.

Since its launch EFE’s Northern business has already extended facilities in excess of £30M to support businesses across the region in a range of markets and sectors, from print and packaging, chemical testing and consultancy to injection moulding, manpower, vehicle rental and telecommunications. EFE has delivered robust funding solutions for in a variety of situations including Management Buy-Outs/Buy-Ins, acquisitions, company restructuring and to support organic growth strategies.

The company’s target is market is SMEs with a turnover of between £2 million and £100 million.

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