Acquisition Finance
What can acquisition finance be used for?
Buying a business is usually faster than building one. The right debt package funds the price, the costs and the working capital to integrate it, repaid from the earnings you have just acquired.
Buying a competitor, a business in a neighbouring region or one with customers and capabilities you want. Debt is sized against the earnings of the combined group.
A series of smaller acquisitions on a repeatable model. We arrange facilities that can be drawn deal by deal rather than renegotiated each time.
Funding one shareholder's exit so the remaining owners keep control, whether that is a retiring founder, a departing partner or an investor.
Buying the trade, assets and contracts of a business rather than its shares, including out of an administration, with debt structured against what you actually acquire.
How acquisition finance comes together
Discovery call
Lender terms provided
Funds issued
What lenders look at
Cash flow lending, asset-based lending or vendor finance?
*Indicative only. Structures, pricing and leverage depend on the lender, the target and the terms agreed with the seller.
Get acquisition finance terms
Tell us about the business you want to buy and how the deal is shaping up, and one of our corporate finance advisers will call you back, usually the same working day.
Client Testimonials
Acquisition Finance FAQs
It depends on the target's sustainable earnings and the assets it owns. Cash flow lenders typically lend a multiple of profit; asset-based lenders advance against debtors, stock, plant and property. The balance comes from your own contribution and, often, deferred consideration from the seller.
Part of the purchase price paid to the seller after completion, sometimes linked to performance. It reduces the amount of debt needed on day one and shows the seller has confidence in the business, both of which lenders view positively.
Yes. Trade acquisitions are the most common deals we fund. Lenders assess the combined business, so synergies, customer overlap and the strength of your existing operation all count in your favour.
Typically three years of accounts for both businesses, recent management accounts, a post-acquisition forecast, the heads of terms and details of any due diligence you have commissioned. We package this so lenders can move quickly.
From first conversation to completion, usually six to twelve weeks, running alongside your legal and financial due diligence. We run the lenders in parallel with the deal so funding is not the reason completion slips.
Yes. Asset and goodwill purchases, including buying a business out of administration, can be funded with debt structured against what you actually acquire. The structure differs from a share purchase and we advise on which lenders suit each route.
Always. Acquisition funding is one piece of a wider transaction, and we coordinate with your advisers so that the debt terms, the sale agreement and the completion timetable all line up.
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Why Ramsay & White?
Ramsay & White Corporate Finance is a trading name of Ramsay & White Corporate Finance Ltd, which is an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA number 460421. Ramsay & White Corporate Finance is a credit broker and not a lender. We work with a panel of lenders to find you a potentially suitable arrangement for consideration. ICO registration ZC246341, which you can check via www.ico.org.uk. Registered address: 7 Soundwell Road, Staple Hill, Bristol, United Kingdom, BS16 4QG. Registered in England & Wales. Registration number: 17450526.
We will receive commission from lenders. Different lenders pay different amounts depending on different commission models. For transparency we work with the following commission models: fixed fee, fixed rate of commission, percentage of the amount you borrow and rate for risk (this is based on the risk profile of the application). Further details of the commission model, calculation and amount will be disclosed to you throughout your customer journey.