Business Acquisition Finance, Structured Before You Sign
Ready to acquire a business? Specialist acquisition finance for experienced business owners and corporate executives across Australia. Expert structuring. Full banking tender. Zero cost to you.
Book a Free 15-Minute Finance AssessmentBusiness Acquisition Finance at a Glance
Who it's for
- Business owners buying a competitor, supplier or bolt-on
- Executives buying a business to run themselves
- Management teams buying out the owner
- Buyers rolling up several smaller businesses in one sector
What we structure
- Senior acquisition debt against the target's cash flow
- Vendor finance and earn-outs that reduce upfront funding
- Property-backed structures where premises are part of the deal
- Working capital and equipment lines set up for day one
What lenders need
- Three years of the target's financials and year-to-date figures
- A clear schedule of EBITDA add-backs, with evidence
- The heads of agreement or sale contract, and due diligence findings
- Your equity contribution, experience and plan for the business
Share Sale vs Asset Sale
In a share sale you buy the company, with its contracts, history and liabilities. In an asset sale you buy the business assets, goodwill and stock, and leave the old entity behind. Lenders view them differently: a share sale needs deeper due diligence on hidden liabilities, while an asset sale needs contracts, leases and licences moved across in time for settlement. The structure also changes stamp duty and tax, so settle it with your accountant and solicitor before the finance application goes in.
How Lenders Read EBITDA, Add-Backs and Goodwill
- EBITDA drives the debt. Most acquisition lenders size senior debt as a multiple of sustainable EBITDA, then test it against debt service cover.
- Add-backs need evidence. An owner's above-market salary or a one-off legal cost can be added back. Unsupported add-backs are stripped out, and the debt shrinks with them.
- Goodwill isn't hard security. Lenders fund goodwill against cash flow, not bricks and mortar, so they look for personal guarantees, property or a larger equity contribution to support it.
- Vendor terms help. A vendor finance component or earn-out shows the seller backs the business and reduces the bank's exposure.
Before you sign, work through our due diligence checklist and check current acquisition multiples. Buying your first business as an owner-operator? Read our guide to entrepreneurship through acquisition.
The Questions Serious Buyers Are Asking
- How much can I realistically borrow for this acquisition, and on what terms?
- What will lenders actually require from me — personally and from my existing business?
- Am I eligible for acquisition finance, and what structure makes the most sense?
- How do I coordinate finance approval with the seller's timeline?
- How can I protect my negotiating position while arranging the funding?
These are exactly the right questions. At Glenclair Financial, we answer them clearly and quickly, so you can move forward with confidence instead of second-guessing.
Who We Work With
Glenclair Financial works with two types of clients in the acquisition space:
Existing business owners seeking a bolt-on acquisition to grow their portfolio.
Corporate professionals and executives looking to acquire a business and step out on their own.
What they share is seriousness of intent and the need for a specialist who understands acquisition finance inside-out so that you get best in market terms.
Why Serious Buyers Choose Glenclair Financial
Acquisition finance is a specialisation. We treat it that way.
Most brokers treat business acquisitions as an occasional deal. We focus on it. That means sharper insight into how lenders assess acquisitions, what structures actually get approved, and where genuine flexibility exists in today's market.
Direct access to the specialist. No hand-offs.
You work one-to-one with an experienced acquisition finance specialist from the very first conversation through to settlement. No account managers, no junior staff, no runaround. Your deal stays with the expert who knows it best.
Tailored structures with real leverage.
Whether you're acquiring a $2M business or a $20M+ enterprise, we design structures that work for your situation, including appropriate gearing, covenants, and security that suit both the target and your existing group.
The full banking tender.
We don't go to one lender and hope for the best. We run a comprehensive tender, with full financial analysis, across all applicable lenders, so you're always seeing the best available terms in the market.
How the Process Works
We keep it straightforward and transparent:
Tell us about the deal
Share details of the target business, purchase price, and your situation.
We assess feasibility
Give you a clear, realistic view of what's achievable and the likely terms.
We prepare your deal pack
Detailed financial analysis and a professional information memorandum.
We run the tender
Approach the right mix of lenders to secure competing offers.
You choose the best offer
Review the options and select what works best for you and the transaction.
We manage to settlement
Handle negotiations and see the deal through to completion.
The earlier you engage, the smoother and faster the process becomes. Don't wait for a signed heads of agreement — reach out early so we can position you strongly.
Our Service Costs You Nothing
Glenclair Financial is paid directly by the lender as part of their standard costs.
There is zero fee to you — regardless of deal size or complexity.
If we don't deliver clear value, you pay nothing. Simple.
Debt advisory services are the exception, provided under a retainer and success-fee structure.
Acquisition Finance Solutions We Deliver
- Business acquisition finance and leveraged buyout facilities
- Management buyouts (MBOs) and management buy-ins (MBIs)
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financing
- Structured acquisition loans tailored to your group
- Unsecured and partially secured business funding for acquisitions
Ready to Explore Your Acquisition Finance Options?
Whether your target deal is six months or six weeks away, understanding your borrowing capacity and optimal structure early gives you a real advantage. Let's talk about what's possible for your acquisition.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation with us today
Book a Free 15-Minute Finance Assessment