Hexa Finance, one of Wales’ leading business finance providers, has announced a strategic partnership with Octa Finance, a newly established finance firm based in Southampton. Octa Finance is an independent entity dedicated to helping businesses across England access tailored financial solutions, complementing Hexa’s existing focus on supporting Welsh SMEs.
Octa Finance will be jointly led by co-founders Sean Taylor and Steve Hynde. Sean, previously Head of Hard Asset Finance at Hexa, will now step into a leadership role at Octa alongside Steve. Both bring a wealth of expertise, having previously worked together at an asset finance subsidiary of Rothschild and Co with Hexa co-founder Stu Mason, before all their careers diverged—Steve joined the security sector, while Sean and Stu pursued finance. Sean and Steve later reconnected at an independent asset finance lessor, leading to this new venture.
Sean has a long-standing connection with Hexa, having grown up in Southampton as a childhood friend and neighbour of Hexa co-founder Stu Mason, and joining Hexa as Head of Hard Asset Finance in 2024. Their lifelong friendship and shared professional experience have made this partnership a natural evolution in their careers.
This strategic collaboration allows Octa, with the support of Hexa, co-founded by Stu Mason and Ben Davies in 2020, to support a wide range of businesses without altering Hexa’s core focus.
Sean Taylor commented: “Launching Octa Finance is an exciting new chapter. Having worked in the finance sector for many years, I understand the challenges businesses face in accessing the right financial solutions. Octa Finance is here to bridge that gap, offering the same expertise and customer-focused approach that Hexa is known for. Working alongside Hexa ensures we have the backing and experience to make an impact, and I look forward to leading this new venture alongside Steve.”
Stu Mason added: “Having known Sean all my life and worked alongside both him and Steve for years, I have full confidence in their ability to drive Octa Finance forward. This collaboration marks an important step in extending our support to businesses beyond Wales. We built Hexa with the vision of making finance more accessible, and now, through Octa, we can extend that vision to businesses across England. Sean and Steve have the perfect mix of industry knowledge and customer insight to make this a success, and we are excited about the journey ahead.”
Octa Finance will offer the same range of financial services as Hexa, including hard and soft asset finance, invoice finance, business loans, and supplier finance solutions. The business will work directly with customers and suppliers to provide tailored financial solutions.
Hannah Downing has joined Octa Finance as an asset finance specialist, bringing her expertise to support the firm’s growth and help businesses access the right financial solutions.
