Business loans
Acquisition finance and MBO finance in Ireland
Fund the purchase of a business or a competitor, or a management buy-out.
- How long
- Case by case
- Depends on the lender and the deal
- How fast
- Around 6+ weeks
- Typical; never guaranteed
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
Quick eligibility check
See what your company could borrow
Step 1 of 3 · about 60 seconds
About 60 seconds · no credit search · not recorded on the Central Credit Register
Prefer to talk? +353 1 536 9910- How long
- Case by case
- Depends on the lender and the deal
- How fast
- Around 6+ weeks
- Typical; never guaranteed
- Our fee
- €0 to you
- The lender pays us commission
- Irish limited companies
- Several lenders, one request
- No fees for your company
- No obligation
At a glance
Acquisition and MBO finance at a glance
around 6+ weeks
- Irish limited companies
- Often 36+ months trading
- Depends on the lender
- 1
Tell us what you need
Three taps: purpose, amount, business type. About 60 seconds, no credit search and not recorded on the Central Credit Register.
- 2
We match you to lenders
We check your profile against lender criteria and approach only those likely to consider it. One request, only to lenders likely to consider it.
- 3
Compare any offers
See the rate, fees, security and any personal guarantee side by side before you decide anything.
Lenders we work with
We are a broker, not a lender. Lender names and logos are trademarks of their owners and are shown with permission. Their inclusion does not mean the lender endorses Welcome Finance. Finance is subject to each lender’s own approval, which is not guaranteed.
About acquisition and MBO finance
Acquisition finance in Ireland helps a company or its managers buy another business. In a management buy-out (MBO), the existing management team buys the company from its owners. MBO finance and business acquisition loans are usually built from several layers rather than one loan.
Lenders focus on the combined cash flow after the deal, the management team's experience, and how much the buyers and seller are putting in. A typical structure mixes senior debt from a bank or specialist lender, deferred payment to the seller (vendor finance) and the buyers' own money, agreed case by case.
If the buyers want to use the target's own assets as security, Irish company law on financial assistance (section 82 of the Companies Act 2014) applies. Our guide on how to finance buying a business or an MBO covers the step-by-step, section 82 and the Summary Approval Procedure.
Tell us what your company needs and we'll tell you honestly whether our panel can help, or where to apply instead.
What it’s used for
- Paying the purchase price
- Funding deferred consideration
- Refinancing the target's debt on completion
Who it’s for
- Companies buying a competitor, supplier or customer
- Management teams buying the business they run
- Directors buying out a retiring business partner
No credit search · not recorded on the Central Credit Register · about 60 seconds
Acquisition and MBO finance calculator
Debt service cover ratio
2.93×
- New loan repayments / year
- €62,275
- All loan repayments / year
- €102,275
Comfortable: most lenders look for cover of at least about 1.25×, and many like more headroom.
Check eligibility for this amountIllustrative only. Actual rates, fees and terms depend on your circumstances and the lender. This is not an offer of finance.
How acquisition and MBO finance works
- 1
Share the deal
Price, structure, timescale and the target's figures.
- 2
Funding plan
With your advisers, work out a realistic mix of debt, vendor support and your own contribution.
- 3
Lender approach
Your advisers present a lender-ready case to suitable funders.
- 4
Complete
Lenders work with your solicitors and accountants to completion.
Types of acquisition and MBO finance
Senior term debt
The main loan, often with security over the business.
Asset-backed lending
Borrowing against invoices, stock and equipment of the target.
Vendor finance
Part of the price paid to the seller later, by agreement.
Typical eligibility
Every lender sets its own criteria. These are common starting points. We’ll tell you which lenders are likely to consider your business.
- An identified target with historic accounts, usually 3 years
- Financial forecasts for the combined business
- An experienced management team
- A contribution from the buyers
- Solicitor and accountant appointed
What you’ll usually need
- Heads of terms or sale agreement
- Target's accounts and management accounts
- Forecasts for the combined business
- Buyer company details and director ID
- Due diligence reports, when available
Advantages
- Grow faster than organic growth allows
- Lets managers own the business they run
- Can be structured around the target's cash flow
Things to consider
- More complex and slower than standard loans
- Legal and due diligence costs
- Higher borrowing increases risk if trading dips
Rates, fees and costs
Expect interest, arrangement fees and, for larger deals, lender legal and monitoring fees. Your own legal and accounting costs are separate. Ask each lender to list every fee in its offer.
We are paid commission by the lender when finance completes. We do not charge your company a fee and never ask for payment upfront.
Example (for illustration only): a management team buys a company for €1,000,000. The buyers put in €200,000 of their own money, the seller agrees to be paid €200,000 later (vendor finance) and a lender provides the other €600,000 over 5 years. If the lender’s offer showed a total repayable of €750,000, the repayments would be 60 monthly payments of €12,500, paid from the combined cash flow after the deal. The real cost depends on the lender’s offer, and finance is subject to status and lender approval.
Acquisition debt raises the risk if trading dips after the deal. Guarantees and security mean the buyers' and the company's assets may be at risk if repayments are missed. Directors should take independent legal advice before signing a personal guarantee. A company giving security over its own assets to help buyers acquire it is restricted by section 82 of the Companies Act 2014 unless an exception applies; your solicitor will advise.
Finance is subject to status and the lender’s approval. Welcome Finance is a commercial finance broker, not a lender. We arrange finance for limited companies for business purposes only; this is not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Compare acquisition and MBO finance with alternatives
Not sure this is the right fit? Here’s how it compares with the options businesses most often weigh it against.
Acquisition and MBO finance
This page- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Case by case
- Typical speed
- Driven by due diligence
- Security
- Depends on the lender
- Typical min. trading
- 36 months
- Amount
- €10k to €500k
- Term
- 1 to 5 years
- Typical speed
- Decisions often within 24 to 48 hours, not guaranteed
- Security
- Unsecured
- Typical min. trading
- 24 months
- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Usually up to 5 years
- Typical speed
- Usually 1 to 3 weeks
- Security
- The asset
- Typical min. trading
- 24 months
- Amount
- Varies
- Term
- Ongoing facility
- Typical speed
- Some providers fund within 24 hours once set up
- Security
- Invoices
- Typical min. trading
- 6 months
| Detail | This page Acquisition and MBO finance | Unsecured business loans | Asset refinance | Invoice finance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Varies | €10k to €500k | Varies | Varies |
| Term | Case by case | 1 to 5 years | Usually up to 5 years | Ongoing facility |
| Typical speed | Driven by due diligence | Decisions often within 24 to 48 hours, not guaranteed | Usually 1 to 3 weeks | Some providers fund within 24 hours once set up |
| Security | Depends on the lender | Unsecured | The asset | Invoices |
| Typical min. trading | 36 months | 24 months | 24 months | 6 months |
How we work
Acquisition and MBO finance: frequently asked questions
How do you finance a management buy-out in Ireland?
Usually through a mix of senior debt from a bank or non-bank lender, vendor finance from the seller and the management team's own money. Lenders focus on the combined cash flow after the deal, the team's experience and how much the buyers and seller are putting in. Deals are agreed case by case, with solicitors and accountants on both sides.
Can I get a business acquisition loan to buy an existing business?
Yes. Banks and specialist lenders lend for acquisitions, subject to their assessment of the target's cash flow, the price, your experience and your own contribution. They typically want around three years of the target's accounts and forecasts for the combined business. Tell us what your company needs and we will tell you whether a lender on our panel may consider it.
How much do buyers need to put in themselves?
There is no fixed rule. Lenders want buyers to have real money at risk in the deal, and the amount depends on the price, the target's cash flow, the security available and how much of the price the seller will defer. A bigger contribution and vendor support usually reduce the debt needed and make lenders more comfortable.
Is vendor finance common in Irish business sales?
Yes. Sellers often agree to take part of the price later, out of the business's future profits, which reduces the amount the buyers must borrow. Lenders usually want the vendor loan to rank behind their own debt. Agree the terms, interest and what happens if trading falls short in the sale agreement, with your solicitor.
Can an SBCI loan be used to buy a business?
Generally not. Under the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme, pure financial transactions are excluded, with limited exceptions for eligible business transfers. Check the current rules on the SBCI website and with a participating lender, which you apply to directly. Our SBCI page explains the process.
What if the business I buy cannot repay the acquisition debt?
The lender can enforce its security, which may include charges over the company's assets and personal guarantees from the buyers. That is why lenders test forecasts against a downturn. Build in headroom for a slower first year after the deal, and agree with your advisers what happens to deferred payments to the seller if trading falls short.
Can a management buy-in be financed in Ireland?
Yes, in a similar way to a management buy-out: senior debt, vendor finance and the buyers' own money, usually through a new company that buys the target. In a buy-in the managers come from outside, so lenders look harder at their experience in the sector and the handover from the seller. A buy-in management buy-out, or BIMBO, combines outside managers with the existing team.
Check in 60 seconds
Check your acquisition and MBO finance eligibility
Three quick taps. No credit search, not recorded on the Central Credit Register. No obligation.
- No credit search, not recorded on the Central Credit Register
- One request, several lenders: we’re a broker, not a lender
- For limited companies registered in Ireland
- No fees for your company: we’re paid commission by the lender
Step 1 of 3 · about 60 seconds
Sources: AIB, GSLS eligibility criteria (checked 22 Oct 2026); Companies Act 2014, s.82 (revised acts); CRO: Summary Approval Procedure; Management Buy-Out factsheet, Bank of Ireland Business Banking (checked 23 Oct 2026).