The Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL), the trade body that represents lenders who offer bridging, short term mortgages or loans, has appointed Lansons to support its communications programme and annual conference on a retainer basis. 

The ASTL’s role is to protect and promote the interests of its members and give confidence to all those who transact business with them.  Joining the ASTL requires that all members sign up to a code of conduct which includes treating customers fairly, not charging commission or other payment which is perceived as being excessive, and requires that all fees are openly disclosed.

Lansons will be providing strategic communications advice, press office management, media relations support, and will assist in the organisation of the annual conference; which is taking place on the 14th September 2017 at Painter’s Hall, London.  This year’s conference, entitled ‘Brexit and Bridging’, will look at the current environment for short term lending and bridging, putting them in the wider political context, and discussing what attendees can do to ensure their businesses are prepared for the range of challenges and opportunities that they face. 

Benson Hersch, Chief Executive of the ASTL said: “We are looking forward to building a close partnership with Lansons as they work with us to promote the ASTL, the interests of our members and to highlight the work they are doing to support both individuals and house builders. 

“We have a built a strong profile over the past five years amongst key mortgage and broker audiences and are looking to continue to broaden our programme going forward."

Katie Priddis, Partner and Director at Lansons added: “We are thrilled to be working with the ASTL; post Brexit the sector is facing fresh challenges and we are really looking forward to working with the team and its members to support the objectives of the trade body going forward.”

To find out more about the ASTL please visit: www.theastl.org

 

Press release - September 11, 2017

Gateley Plc, the legal business of law-led professional services group Gateley, is the latest to join the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL) as an associate member. The membership now stands at 38 members and 31 associate members.

This news comes just weeks after the ASTL announced the appointment of its new executive committee and revealed that the annual value of bridging loans written by its members exceeded £3bn.

Gateley Plc offers a wide range of services from banking and financial services, dispute resolution, regulatory and restructuring, to corporate, commercial, real estate, pensions, tax and private wealth, among others. Following recent acquisitions, the company has seen continued growth and earlier this year reported a 15.7% increase in revenue and 18.8% rise in pre-tax profits.

Rob Payne, partner in the financial disputes and regulation team at Gately Plc, says, “Short term lending has a vital role to play in the dynamic credit markets, and with many existing clients and contacts in both the membership and associate membership, we are delighted to have joined the ASTL.

“We are able offer a full suite of specialist partner led support covering documentation, regulatory compliance, loan originations, restructuring and recoveries. As a forward thinking Plc business we are constantly evolving and we look forward to playing a full part in promoting the interests of the ASTL members and the wider finance industry going forward.” 

Benson Hersch, CEO of the ASTL, says, “I heard only good things about Gateley Plc from our members. I understand that the firm has experienced another year of expansion as a result of its client relationships, its service offering and its team of professionals. Its specialist expertise in the industry should certainly add value to the ASTL’s growing and diversifying membership. Gateley Plc joins a host of associate members which includes surveyors and insolvency experts who can all help the association’s lender members with specialist areas of the short-term lending market.”

 

Press release Thursday, September 7, 2017

  • Faisal Choudhry, Savills, joins speaking line up
  • Fifth annual conference to take place on 14th September at Painter’s Hall, London

The Association of Short Term Lenders today announces Sunday Times Political Editor, Tim Shipman, as the keynote speaker at its annual conference on the 14th September.

Shipman will be discussing ‘the battle for Brexit and the mayhem that followed’, providing his insights from being at the frontline of a turbulent political year. He has been Political Editor at the Sunday Times since 2014, and has covered five general elections, three presidential elections, two wars and countless leadership contests in his national newspaper career.

Savill’s Faisal Choudhry joins the bill for the fifth annual conference, to provide his analysis of the UK property market. Faisal will be sharing his expertise from over 15 years with Savills, drawing upon the bespoke market research they produce for developers, investors and financial institutions across the UK.

They will join the previously announced speakers for the ‘Brexit and Bridging’ themed conference; Lorna O’Brien, Technical Specialist at the Financial Conduct Authority, and Peter Andrews, Agent for Greater London at the Bank of England.

Benson Hersch, chief executive of the ASTL said: “The past couple of years have seen unprecedented political change across the world, and Tim Shipman will be able to bring unrivalled insights from being up close to these developments as they happened.

“Tim headlines the leading line up of speakers that help fulfil the aim of the conference; to provide attendees with updates and analysis from a range of experts to help them prepare for the variety of economic, regulatory and political challenges they currently face.”

Full event details:

Date: Thursday 14 September 2017

Time: 8.45am – 3.30pm (breakfast/lunch is included)

Venue: Painters’ Hall, 9 Little Trinity Lane, London, EC4V 2AD

The conference is open to lenders, financial advisers, intermediaries, surveyors and anyone else who is interested in the short term lending market.  Register for the conference via our website www.theastl.org or please contact Kay Woolley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 01494 618462. 

To find out more about the ASTL please visit: www.theastl.org

Press Release 24 August 2017

Benson Hersch, Chief Executive, ASTL comments on the potential impact of Brexit negotiations on the bridging and property finance industry:

“Instead of squabbling, political parties should get together to present a common front to the EU.   Both the government and the opposition seem to be so locked into a mutually antagonistic mind-set that seems to put political points above the needs of the country.  Markets hate uncertainty and confusion about current negotiations is not helping the mortgage industry.

 

“The effects of Brexit on bridging and the property finance market as a whole will be discussed at the ASTL conference on Thursday, September 14, with a group of speakers from all sectors, including political journalism, the FCA, Bank of England and the legal profession.”

 

About the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL)

The ASTL is a trade body formed in 2008 to represent lenders who offer bridging or short term mortgages or loans.  It currently has 38 full members and 31 associate members.

The ASTL’s function is to protect and promote the interests of its members and give confidence to all those who transact business with its members.  Membership requires that all members sign up to a code of conduct which includes treating customers fairly, no charging commission or other payment which is perceived as being excessive and requires that all fees are openly disclosed.

 

For further information, please contact:

Calum MacDougall/ Katie Priddis, Lansons

0207 566 9707 / 0207 294 3631

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL) has today announced its new executive committee for the upcoming year. The new board will take effect as of the 1st September 2017.  The board will continue to comprise seven directors who will act as a guiding influence, while providing direction and decision making to the Association.

Benson Hersch, CEO of the ASTL, will be joined by six additional board members: Adrian Bloomfield (Barton Bridging Capital), Brian West (Central Bridging), Emma Ryan (Amicus Finance Plc), Gavin Diamond (UTB), James Bloom (Masthaven Bank) and Scott Marshall (Roma Finance).

Due to the membership’s rules, all members of the committee, except the CEO, have to retire after serving a maximum of two years.  Every year, those interested in taking up the available spaces on the committee, put their names forward and are then democratically elected by the ASTL’s wider membership. On this occasion as the committee was short of one member, Scott Marshall of Roma Finance has agreed to remain on the board for an additional year even though he has already completed his statutory two-year stint.

Benson Hersch, CEO of the ASTL says, “I am confident that the new executive committee will continue to work to raise standards within the ASTL and its wider membership, while also increasing awareness of the value of bridging while and the short term secured lending market.

“I would like to say a special thank you to Jonathan Sealey, CEO of Hope Capital, and Jon Hall, managing director at Masthaven, who have served on the committee for the past two years. Their continued commitment and support has helped the association to grow to record membership levels.”

The membership currently stands at 37 members and 30 associate members the highest it has ever achieved. 

Press release 22 August 2017

  1. Value of bridging loans written by ASTL members exceeds £3billion for the first time
  2. ASTL announces Lorna O’Brien, FCA, and Peter Andrews, BOE, as speakers at its annual conference
  3. Are we living in a fool’s paradise?
  4. JPC Law joins the ASTL