A Liverpool gaming firm has made history with a unique financial deal.
- Ripstone is the first UK gaming company to get an IP-backed loan from NatWest.
- The loan, worth £600,000, will support the firm’s new gaming projects.
- This financing method could boost Liverpool’s £220m gaming sector.
- The initiative addresses funding challenges for asset-light businesses.
Ripstone, a Liverpool-based video game developer, has become the first UK gaming company to secure an intellectual property (IP)-backed loan from NatWest. The £600,000 loan aims to fund the company’s future projects, using its creative IP as collateral. This development represents a significant step for Liverpool’s vibrant gaming sector, which generates approximately £220 million annually and employs 1,800 individuals.
Since its inception in 2011, Ripstone has developed 21 games, reaching an audience of 20 million players globally. Known for classic games like chess and poker, the company plans to utilise the loan to expand its portfolio with original IP and new projects. The funding will also support the firm’s operational base in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, facilitated by a mortgage from the Royal Bank of Scotland, part of the NatWest Group.
NatWest’s recent introduction of IP-backed lending offers a solution for innovative scale-ups that lack tangible assets to secure financing. Partnering with IP valuation firm Inngot, the bank can now accept intangible assets like patents and trademarks as loan security. This initiative could transform how companies in the creative industry access the capital they need to grow and innovate.
Ripstone’s Finance Director, Amy Wall, described the funding as crucial for maintaining a steady flow of new projects. “As a games developer, we place a strong emphasis on prototyping new games, often juggling multiple projects at once. This loan provides us with the financial means to develop the original IP that gamers love, while continuing our legacy with classic games such as chess and pool,” she stated.
James Shelley, Senior Relationship Manager at NatWest, highlighted the importance of supporting firms like Ripstone in a competitive market. “Games are a serious business for Liverpool’s economy, providing many high-quality jobs. This solution allows developers to leverage their IP for lending, enabling growth and innovation,” he remarked.
Martin Brassell, CEO of Inngot, reinforced the value of IP-backed finance as a future path for scale-up funding. He noted that recognising IP as a business’s critical asset allows for its use as collateral in securing loans, reflecting a shift in financial strategy for firms reliant on intangible assets.
This landmark loan paves the way for a new era of financial support for innovative companies in creative industries.
