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Search Funds

If your route to entrepreneurship lies in acquisition rather than a start-up, we can support you in raising the debt finance you’ll need to progress your Search Fund journey.

Our experienced Corporate Lending Team can arrange flexible finance solutions to fund your acquisition through a tailored debt package that sits alongside your equity funding. We assess every enquiry individually and work with advisors, accountants, SMEs, sponsors and searchers to create bespoke solutions that enable you to achieve your ambition.

What is a Search Fund?

Search Funds provide a route to entrepreneurship for ambitious individuals who possess the necessary skills for entrepreneurship, but recognises the benefits of focusing their journey on acquiring an existing, established business that they can grow, rather than starting from scratch. The searcher seeks commitment and capital from a pool of investors to fund the search phase where they identify an SME to acquire.

Once identified and terms have been agreed, the searcher will typically need to source a debt package to sit alongside their equity funding to finance their purchase. They’ll then operate the business as CEO, backed by the existing management team to accelerate its growth. The searcher benefits from performance linked equity and a CEO or Executive position in the acquired entity. They also build their career in entrepreneurship with the support and backing of experienced investors.

What are the benefits of Search Funds?

Offers a route to entrepreneurship and equity participation for those individuals wanting to grow existing businesses rather than starting from scratch
The ability to acquire a cash generative SME with a proven track record
Support from an experienced group of Investors
Performance linked equity and an accelerated career path
Financial support through the search period

Why Shawbrook?

Relationship: A dedicated relationship led approach as part of a smaller portfolio managed by likeminded entrepreneurs who’ll assist you throughout your journey
Certainty: Support from a team experienced in Search Fund transactions providing certainty of funding
A fast-track to entrepreneurship through acquisition of a cash generative SME
Quick decisions with short lines of communication direct to decision-makers
Flexibility: A tailored and flexible funding structure that is specific to the unique needs of your acquisition
Funding part of the acquisition through debt enables you to retain a greater amount of equity in the target entity giving better returns to investors
Support for future growth through committed or uncommitted accordion facilities

Funding for Search Funds at a glance

Our funding is available for UK based Limited companies operated by a high-calibre searcher, seeking debt finance as a component of their funding mix to support the acquisition of a cash generative SME.

Loans of £2m to £20m
Typically a mix of amortising and bullet loan tranches but can also include elements of asset based lending
Typical term of 5 years
Requires an appropriate balance of equity to debt to ensure aligned interests
Can provide initial capital repayment holidays to allow a ‘settling in’ period
Potential for committed and uncommitted follow-on funding to support growth strategy
Bespoke solutions with each case assessed individually

What we look for in a Search deal

As a leading provider of debt finance in the Search Fund space in the UK, we’re uniquely positioned to support high-calibre searchers in their journey to entrepreneurship through acquisition.

Meaningful equity contribution to support the transaction
Credible and experienced searcher with relevant industry or related experience to set them up for success in their acquired company
Retention and incentivisation of key existing management team within the business being as they will be integral in helping to deliver the strategy
Overall positive view of the market conditions in which the target acquisition operates including features like high barriers to entry, defensible markets and niche propositions
Track record of stable margins and profitability with quality finance function and robust information and reporting
A strategy of cultural integration and retention and incentivisation of key staff

Releasing value on your assets

Unlock the value tied up in paper and hard assets

For businesses with substantial capital tied up in their 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.

Explore Asset Based Lending Submit an enquiry for Asset Based Lending

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Working with capital

Utilising cashflow to fund significant business milestones

A senior debt product designed for established businesses requiring funding for growth, an acquisition, change of ownership or other general corporate purpose. Loan size is determined by a multiple of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortisation) or vacant possession value of an owner-occupied commercial property, with repayments coming from future cashflows of the business.

Explore our Leveraged Finance facilities Submit an enquiry for Leveraged Finance

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Hybrid Solutions

Bespoke senior debt solutions

For businesses we can deliver a holistic financing package combining the best of event driven term debt with the flexibility of working capital solutions.

Submit an enquiry for Hybrid Funding Solutions