Acquisition Finance For Sponsors

Unitranche Acquisition Financing

Unitranche financing combines senior and subordinated debt into one loan, with one lender group, one blended rate and one set of documents. Financely structures unitranche facilities for buyouts and add-ons and places them with direct lenders and private credit funds, as a fee-based arranger, not a lender.

When Does Unitranche Fit an Acquisition?

  • You want one counterparty and fewer intercreditor negotiations
  • Speed and certainty of closing matter more than the lowest headline rate
  • The target's cash flow supports more leverage than a bank senior loan alone
  • You expect add-ons and want delayed draw capacity in the same facility

For a full comparison see unitranche vs senior debt vs mezzanine.

What Do You Get From Financely?

  • A view on whether unitranche, senior plus mezzanine, or senior alone fits your deal
  • A credit package built for direct lenders: model, QoE status, sources and uses, and sponsor thesis
  • Placement with matched direct lenders, BDCs and private credit funds
  • Term sheet comparison on leverage, pricing, prepayment protection, covenants, amortisation and delayed draw terms
  • Support through documentation and closing

What Deal Criteria Do We Typically Look For?

Typical criteria, not hard limits:

  • A sponsor-led or sponsor-backed buyout or add-on, usually with a signed LOI
  • A profitable target with stable, recurring or contracted revenue
  • Adjusted EBITDA of a size direct lenders in the segment actively finance
  • Meaningful sponsor or co-invest equity in the deal
  • A QoE completed or planned before lender approval

How Does the Process Work?

  1. Submit your deal with the documents below.
  2. Structure review. We confirm whether unitranche is the right tool.
  3. Quote. We reply with a fee-based engagement quote.
  4. Lender outreach. We run a targeted process with matched direct lenders.
  5. Term sheets. We compare and negotiate.
  6. Close. We coordinate confirmatory diligence and documentation.

What Should You Send Us?

  • LOI and deal summary
  • Historical financials and year to date results
  • Adjusted EBITDA bridge and QoE report if available
  • Financial model and sources and uses
  • Equity commitments and sponsor background

Related pages

Ready to Price a Unitranche?

Send your LOI, financials and model. We will reply with a fee-based quote.

Request A Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

What is unitranche financing?

A single loan that blends senior and junior risk at one rate, usually provided by a direct lender or a small club of lenders.

Is unitranche more expensive than bank debt?

The blended rate is usually higher than bank senior debt but can be lower than a senior plus mezzanine stack. We compare the total cost for your deal.

Who provides unitranche loans?

Direct lending funds, BDCs and other private credit providers. Financely places the deal with them; we do not lend.

Can unitranche include a revolver?

Many structures pair the term loan with a revolver, sometimes from a bank under an agreement among lenders. We structure that where needed.

Can a unitranche fund future add-ons?

Yes, through delayed draw or incremental features negotiated at closing. See add-on acquisition financing.

How is your service paid for?

Financely charges a deal review fee, then a retainer and a success fee agreed in writing before work begins, quoted after we review the deal.

Disclaimer: Financely is an advisory and structuring platform. We do not guarantee issuance, lender approvals, or transaction closing outcomes. All mandates are subject to underwriting, KYC and AML checks, compliance review, counterparty acceptance, and final provider decisions. This page is provided for commercial information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice.