Hitachi Capital UK acquired Franchise Finance, a specialist financial services provider to the franchising industry.

The transaction boosts Hitachi Capital UK’s lending base to SMEs and franchisees, bringing senior consultancy experience to the Group and helping to build a profitable portfolio within an underserved market. The acquisition also enables Hitachi Capital UK to diversify its offering, by utilizing Franchise Finance’s expertise in business planning and training within the SME marketplace, to create a new product offering amongst a wider UK audience.

Franchise Finance operates UK-wide with more than 140 franchisors and their franchisees, showing particular strength in the hotel, leisure, business services, personal services (such as fitness and domiciliary care) and transport sectors. Over the last five years, the company has completed more than 700 deals, worth more than £32m ($42.1 million).

The acquisition marks a major move into the franchise industry for Hitachi Capital UK, providing the business with an opportunity to grow in a franchise market, which has seen growth of almost 50% to £15bn ($19.7 billion) in the last decade alone.

“Hitachi Capital UK has delivered significant organic growth for almost a decade by ensuring we provide current and prospective customers with relevant products and services across our business units,” said Robert Gordon, CEO of Hitachi Capital UK. “Franchise Finance Ltd is a natural fit for Hitachi Capital UK.  With a strong market share and a well-established business training offering, the deal provides a real opportunity to enhance our offering to both existing and new customers. This acquisition enables us to grow and diversify our business further, reaching new customers within a franchise market that is consistently providing growth opportunities. We’re excited to bring the team into the Hitachi Capital UK group and use their expertise to accelerate our growth within the SME market.”

Stuart Walsh, managing director of Franchise Finance Limited, said, “Hitachi Capital UK is a highly respected company, with which we share a common culture of integrity and dedication to excellent customer service. This deal will enable Franchise Finance to grow the reach and value of the fantastic expertise we have in the franchise market, providing Hitachi Capital UK’s current and prospective customers with specialist knowledge and funding that could prove crucial to their business or franchise success.”