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Corporate Leverage Finance

Specialist leverage debt facilities supporting mid-market SMEs.

Why Shawbrook?

We provide Corporate Leverage Finance facilities designed to support owner managed and sponsor backed mid-market businesses across the UK. Our tailored debt solutions can support a variety of needs, including acquisition finance, strategic growth capital, or ownership transitions and our flexible structures meet the unique needs of each business:

  • With certainty of funding, coupled with our flexible structuring capabilities, we're able to create a commercial loan structure that's right for you
  • Maintaining close working relationships with our customers is paramount, which is why our Client Managers are focused on small portfolios and tasked to make dealing with Shawbrook as simple as possible

What is Corporate Leverage Finance?

Corporate Leverage Finance can refer to a type of commercial loan that is provided based on a multiple of a company's EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation). This means that the loan amount is determined by multiplying the company's EBITDA by a certain factor, which reflects the company's ability to generate earnings and repay the loan. Also known as leveraged finance in the industry, this facility is one way for businesses to obtain funding for growth, acquisitions, or other corporate purposes by leveraging their future earnings potential.

Security may be required. Any property or asset used as security may be at risk if you do not repay any debt secured on it. Our leveraged finance is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority.

About our Corporate Leverage Finance

  • Debt Size: from £3m – £25m 
  • Term typically 3 – 5 years
  • Facility Structure: Term Loan, which can be combined with working capital facilities as a comprehensive solution
  • Repayment: Amortising profile with interest-only periods and bullet options available with payments taken from future cashflows of the business
  • Covenants: Two financial covenants typically included (usually a leverage-based test and a cashflow-based test)
  • Security: Senior first ranking debenture. Parental and cross guarantees may also be required
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Understanding Financial Leverage

Financial leverage refers to the use of borrowed capital to fund a company's operations and growth. Essentially, financial leverage allows a company to amplify its returns by using debt to increase its investment capacity. 

Why is Financial Leverage important?

Financial leverage could be important because it allows businesses to amplify their potential returns by utilising borrowed capital to expedite strategic goals. By leveraging their earnings, companies can undertake larger projects, expand operations, and pursue growth opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach with their own resources alone. This strategic use of debt can enhance shareholder value and improve the company's competitive position in the market. Leverage loans offer businesses access to a larger quantum of debt, however the cost of repaying these loans can add significant overheads to a balance sheet so careful structuring is critical. 

What can Corporate Leverage Finance be used for?

Corporate Leverage Finance can be used for a range of business purposes, including:

Mergers & Acquisitions

Corporate Leverage Finance is often used to fund mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the form of acquisition finance. This type of financing allows companies to acquire part or all of other businesses, or their assets, by using debt to cover a significant portion of the purchase price. This enables the acquiring company to expand its market share, enter new markets, or acquire new technologies without having to use all of its own cash reserves.

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Management Buyouts

Corporate Leverage Finance can also be used to facilitate management buyouts (MBOs). In an MBO, the existing management team of a company acquires the business from its current owners using a combination of debt and equity. This allows the management team to take control of the company and potentially benefit from its future growth and success

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Debt Refinancing

Companies may use corporate leverage finance to refinance existing debt. This can involve taking out new loans at more favourable terms to pay off older, more expensive debt. Refinancing can help companies reduce their interest expenses, extend the maturity of their debt, and improve their overall financial stability or capital stack.

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Working with your business

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Working capital

Maintaining sufficient financial headroom is critical in ensuring that your business is resilient and capable of dealing with whatever the future might hold. We provide a range of solutions to help you manage your working capital, using either your assets or cashflow as security.

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Event financing

Acquisitions, management buy-outs, employee ownership transitions, re-structuring, investing for growth. These are pivotal events for any business, and almost always dependent on access to funding.

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Assets & equipment

Funding to support investments in assets and equipment. Whether it’s leasing or purchasing capital equipment or machinery, or funding significant investment in soft assets or intangible costs associated to CapEx.

Outstanding in your field

We work with most sectors across the UK. Here’s a spotlight on some of the sectors we work with.

Corporate Leverage Finance case studies

Find out more about the businesses we have supported with Corporate Leverage Finance.

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Case Study

Software business acquirer secures Corporate Leverage Finance loan for M&A growth

Shawbrook provided a commercial loan and committed acquisition facility for Software Circle to simplify its capital structure for further M&A activity 

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Case Study

Kendra Energy Solutions introduces Employee Ownership scheme, with funding from Shawbrook

Leading provider of energy management systems, Kendra Energy Solutions transitions to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), with Leverage Finance from Shawbrook.

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Case Study

GRC International Group acquired by Bloom Equity Partners in deal backed by Shawbrook

Regulatory and compliance service provider, GRC International was acquired by private equity house Bloom Equity Partners, in deal backed by Shawbrook.

Adviser or Business Introducer?

We work with a range of corporate debt advisers, accountants, lawyers, and other knowledge based introducers to find solutions for their clients. 

If your business is introducing clients to the right partners and we haven't spoken before, we understand that a conversation is just the start.

Explore our Business Lending Products

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Asset Based Lending

For businesses with substantial value tied-up in the balance sheet, our Asset Based Lending proposition can unlock that value to provide both strategic capital and on-going financial headroom to support pivotal events.

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Unsecured Business Loans

Finance for specialist needs including Professions Finance to support tax, VAT and membership fees, and CapEx Term Loans to support the acquisition of assets or intangible costs associated with capital expenditure purchases.

Supporting the businesses you support

Explore our funding solutions for Private Equity investors supporting UK mid-market SMEs.

Useful information

Useful links to more information in case you’ve not quite found what you’re looking for.

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If you're an existing customer or you've got questions on how our products work, visit our help centre for support.

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Business insights hub

We break down the latest data, insights and topics to help SMEs understand the key issues affecting their business.

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News & case studies

Read our latest news and find out more about the businesses we have supported.

Our business

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About Shawbrook

Shawbrook provides finance to a wide range of customers who value the premium experience, flexibility and certainty we deliver.  We are a purpose-led organisation, with a focus on delivering long-term sustainable value for all our stakeholders.

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Sustainability

Our sustainability strategy is designed to create value for our customers, colleagues, communities, suppliers and shareholders, while having a positive impact on society and the wider environment. 

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Sponsorship Programme

As official banking partner of Saracens Rugby Club and lead partner of London Mavericks netball, we are proud to champion inclusive elite sport and the opportunities it can bring for all participants, both on & off the field & court.