Senior hire to head up asset lending advisory team

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has appointed senior corporate finance specialist, Drew Johnson, to head up a new Asset Based Lending (ABL) Advisory service.

Drew (pictured) joins as director from PNC Business Credit - a large US financial institution, where he worked as a business development director originating, structuring and executing large SME, mid-market ABL transactions, ranging from £1 million to £150 million.

He has 20 years of corporate finance and banking experience.

Based in the Midlands, Drew will take on a national role sitting across Corporate Finance, Debt Advisory and Business Restructuring.

He will be responsible for advising UK mid-market corporates on accessing ABL debt and refinancing solutions to help facilitate M&As, MBOs, MBIs, recapitalisation, restructuring and growth.

Richard Rose, partner and head of BDO in the Midlands, said: “We 're delighted to welcome Drew to the BDO Midlands team. He brings an incredible amount of ABL expertise to the firm and will play an important role in helping to shape our new ABL Advisory service into a successful advisory offering.

“With significant experience sitting bank-side winning, structuring and executing large ABL deals, Drew will be perfectly placed to help clients navigate the raft of alternative lenders and structures available in the market and advise them through the process, to ensure they have the most appropriate solution that 's right for their business. ”

The ABL Advisory service will be focused on mid-market corporates to support ABL debt structuring and refinancing and to access asset-backed funding.

Drew, who out of the office is an FA qualified coach and an avid Aston Villa fan, added: “After leaving PNC last summer, I was keen to return to the market and tackle a new and exciting challenge.

“In the current economic climate, there has been a big shift away from traditional forms of debt. Utilising my experience in finance and ABL, I believe I can add real value to a large advisory practice, such as BDO, as we help clients manage this period of change.

“In a normal economy, ABL wins its share of the market but, in times of change, ABL has shown its ability to support businesses when others have retrenched. ”