Which UK lenders lend to companies without a private-equity sponsor?

How this list is drawn

A lender appears here when its profile answers yes to lending without a private-equity sponsor, on the lender's published terms. Lenders that work only with sponsor-backed borrowers, or that do not publish a position, are not listed.

What to know

Much of the mid-market debt written in the UK sits behind private-equity buyouts, and some funds lend only where a sponsor stands behind the equity. An owner-managed company is not shut out. Banks, asset-based lenders and a growing group of private-credit funds lend to founder- and family-owned businesses on the strength of the company itself.

The difference shows in what a lender asks for. Without a sponsor, expect closer attention to the depth of the management team, the owners' own commitment and, at smaller sizes, a request for personal guarantees.

A reference list drawn from each lender’s published material, informational and not a ranking or a recommendation. Each name links to the lender’s profile, where the sources are listed.