Rothschild & Co’s mid-market team advises McConnell's Irish Whisky on £22.5 million ABL refinancing with Shawbrook

Rothschild & Co’s mid-market Debt Advisory team, Arrowpoint Advisory, has acted as sole financial adviser to McConnell's Irish Whisky on its £22.5 million asset-based lending (ABL) refinancing provided by Shawbrook Bank.

Originally established in 1776, McConnell's played a defining role in Belfast's historic whisky trade. Following its relaunch in 2020, the brand has expanded rapidly, with its whisky now sold in more than 45 countries across the globe. The business has received over 55 international whisky awards and, most recently, opened a new brand home and distillery in Belfast — transforming a former Victorian prison into a modern production facility capable of producing 500,000 litres of pure alcohol per annum. The company's current portfolio comprises four premium and ultra-premium expressions, with further product launches planned.

The revolving ABL facility is structured against McConnell's maturing Irish whisky inventory and replaces the company's existing funding arrangements. The transaction is designed to provide meaningful additional headroom to support stock maturation, accelerate export growth and fund the early-stage commercialisation of bulk whisky sales.

John Kelly, CEO of McConnell's Irish Whisky, said: “Reviving a brand of this scale requires patient capital and a funding partner who understands both our growth ambitions and the dynamics of maturing whisky inventory. Shawbrook demonstrated a genuine appetite to understand our vision from the outset. This facility gives us the flexibility to continue investing in our stocks, our international footprint and our visitor experience, and will provide us with the resources to continue on our mission to put Belfast back on the whisky map where it belongs.”

Patrick Collins, CFO of McConnell's Irish Whisky, added: “Rothschild & Co's Arrowpoint Advisory team guided us expertly through the process from start to finish. They understood the value held in our maturing inventory and worked tirelessly to optimise a financing package tailored to our needs — delivering a flexible, bespoke structure that gives us the headroom and confidence to keep investing in our growth story and Belfast's whisky revival.”

Neil Smith, Managing Director at Arrowpoint Advisory, said: “McConnell's is an exceptional Irish whisky brand with a compelling combination of deep heritage, genuine international traction and a highly differentiated asset base. We were delighted to support John and the team in securing a bespoke ABL structure that reflects the long-term nature of the business and provides the platform for the next phase of their growth.”

George Lane, Director at Arrowpoint Advisory, commented: “This refinancing is a great example of matching a differentiated business with the right capital structure. McConnell's maturing whisky inventory is a genuinely valuable asset, and an ABL facility was the natural fit to unlock that value and provide real flexibility for growth. We were pleased to run a focused process that delivered a bespoke structure with Shawbrook, giving the business the headroom it needs to accelerate its export ambitions and further differentiate itself as one of the leading super premium Irish Whisky brands.”

Contact the deal team

Discover our Debt Advisory transactions