RM SecDirect Lending - Additional allocation under CBILS

RM Secured Direct Lending Plc

("RMDL" or the "Company")

ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION UNDER CBILS

RM Funds the Investment Manager to RMDL, the investment trust specialising in secured debt investments, announces that it has received an increased allocation from the British Business Bank under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).

RMDL as the Funding Partner to RM Funds, is the only listed debt fund actively supporting the deployment of CBILS funding. RM Funds was initially granted an allocation of HM Government Guarantee capacity in August 2020. This has now been fully deployed into businesses in RM Funds' focus areas, representing c.11% of the Company's unaudited NAV as at 31 December 2020.

Delivered through the British Business Bank accredited lenders, CBILS is designed to support the continued provision of finance to UK smaller businesses (SMEs) during the Covid-19 outbreak. The scheme enables lenders to provide loans of up to £5m, and the Government provides a Business Interruption Payment "BIP" option, whereby the first 12 months of interest on the loan and some upfront costs are paid by the Government. All CBILS loans benefit from a UK Government Guarantee, protecting 80% of the principal and 100% of the first year's interest.

RM Funds expects to continue deploying into its existing high quality pipeline following the increased allocation. To date RMDL has funded four loans via CBILS, including:

·    Social Infrastructure > Aged Care: Two tranche Senior Secured Loan. The loan will be utilised to support the development of a high quality 72 bed purpose-built care home. The borrower has an extensive track record in developing and operating quality care homes in the UK.

·    Environmental Infrastructure > Energy Efficiency: Senior secured loan to a business specialising in providing retrofit energy efficiency measures.  

James Robson, Chief Investment Officer, RM Funds, commented:

"We are delighted to have received an increase to our allocation under the CBILS scheme. Not only does this enable us to support British businesses impacted by Covid-19 but which meet our strict investment criteria, the Government guarantee acts as a strong credit enhancement for any eligible new loans which can be facilitated under the scheme."

LEI: 213800RBRIYICC2QC958

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About RM Secured Direct Lending

RM Secured Direct Lending Plc is a closed-ended investment trust established to invest in a portfolio of secured debt instruments. The Company aims to generate attractive and regular dividends through loans sourced or originated by the Investment Manager with a degree of inflation protection through index-linked returns where appropriate. Loans in which the Company invests are predominantly secured against assets such as real estate or plant and machinery and/or income streams such as account receivables.

About RM Funds

RM Funds is a trading name of RM Capital Markets Limited, the Investment Manager to RM Secured Direct Lending PLC and VT RM Alternative Income Fund. RM Capital is a specialist in alternative fund management, sales & trading, foreign exchange, and capital markets and advisory. Founded in 2010, with offices in Edinburgh, and London, it has transacted in excess of £50 billion of bonds and loans since its inception, and advised or originated, structured and managed the due diligence process for over £1 billion of Sterling credit transactions and approximately €700 million of Euro based transactions in each case since 2012.

About Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS) is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).