Graeme Sands, director of corporate and structured finance at Clydesdale, is leading the new unit, which is expected to hire people to expand the franchise outside of Scotland after receiving board approval.

Clydesdale Bank, a UK subsidiary of National Australia Bank Group, has set up a venture debt operation after a pilot with three companies last year. Clydesdale’s development comes as a recent report calls for banks to adjust their lending criteria ahead of the UK’s Budget this week.

Graeme Sands, director of corporate and structured finance at Clydesdale, is leading the new unit, which is expected to hire people to expand the franchise outside of Scotland after receiving board approval.

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