Atlas › Finance we arrange › Acquisition, leveraged and mezzanine finance
Acquisition, leveraged and mezzanine finance
Buying a business, or adding a layer of capital above senior debt, needs lenders who understand cash flow and structure. Banks, private credit funds and mezzanine providers all play a part, and the right mix depends on earnings, sector and how much equity you bring.
What it's used for
- Acquisitions and bolt-ons
- Management buy-outs and buy-ins
- Unitranche and senior term loans
- Mezzanine or stretch-senior debt above a senior loan
- Property mezzanine to reduce the equity needed on a scheme
What lenders look at
- Earnings quality and cash conversion
- Leverage, typically 2 to 4 times EBITDA for SME senior debt
- The equity contribution and who provides it
- Management team and integration plan
- For property mezzanine, total loan to cost and to gross development value
What you'll need to send
You don't need everything on day one. Start with what you have; Atlas tells you what's missing as the deal is prepared.
- Information memorandum or deal summary
- Historic accounts and quality-of-earnings work, if available
- Forecasts and the financing structure
- Heads of terms for the acquisition
- Details of existing debt
How Atlas handles it
- Describe the deal. In your own words, online or on WhatsApp. Rough figures are fine.
- We underwrite it. Atlas checks the figures, asks the questions lenders will ask, and builds a complete pack.
- We match it. Your deal goes to the lenders on our panel whose criteria it fits, not to everyone.
- You compare terms. Lenders respond on the platform, and we help you through to completion.
Have an acquisition, leveraged and mezzanine finance deal? Start it on Atlas in a few minutes. Introducers and brokers can submit on behalf of clients.
Start a dealCommon questions
What is the difference between unitranche and mezzanine?
Unitranche blends senior and junior debt into one loan from one lender. Mezzanine is a separate, higher-cost layer that sits behind senior debt.
Can you help with the equity too?
Where professional investors may co-invest, see our equity and co-investment page. Equity introductions are for professional investors only.
How long does an acquisition financing take?
Typically six to twelve weeks from a complete pack, longer if the lender needs third-party due diligence.
Other finance we arrange
- Development financeFunding for ground-up builds, conversions and refurbishment schemes.
- Development exit financeRepays a maturing build loan while you sell or refinance completed units.
- Bridging financeShort-term loans secured on property, repaid by sale or refinance.
- Refurbishment financeLight and heavy refurbishment, conversions and value-add schemes.
- Commercial mortgages and investment loansTerm loans on commercial, mixed-use and investment property.
- Hotel and hospitality financeAcquisition, refinance and repositioning of hotels and leisure assets.
- Business loans and working capitalGrowth, working capital and refinancing for trading businesses.
- Invoice finance and ABLFunding released against your sales ledger, stock and assets.
- Asset financeFunding for vehicles, plant, machinery and equipment.
- Trade and supply-chain financeImport, export, purchase-order and supply-chain funding.
- Sports financeClubs, leagues, venues and events across every sport.
- Football financeTransfer fees, receivables, media advances and club funding.
- Infrastructure and project financeSenior and structured debt for energy, renewables and large projects.
- Equity and co-investmentIntroductions to family offices and investment groups for equity and JV capital.