Funding Circle facilitates ninth UK public securitisation

SME lending platform Funding Circle has successfully facilitated its ninth UK public securitisation, SBOLT 2025-1, underscoring its continued dominance in the small business asset-backed securities (ABS) market. The transaction, which includes loans originated on the platform and contributed by long-term partner Waterfall Asset Management (WAM), adds approximately £336 million to the platform’s total securitised issuance, now standing at around £2.17 billion.

SBOLT 2025-1 attracted strong investor demand, marking another milestone for Funding Circle as the largest public issuer of SME ABS in the UK and Europe over the past decade. The securitisation’s success signals robust market confidence in UK SME credit, despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds.

BNP Paribas served as Sole Arranger for the transaction, with Citi acting as Joint-Lead Manager.

“This transaction is a testament to the track record Funding Circle has built, and the strength and attractiveness of UK SME credit as an asset class,” said Dipesh Mehta, Chief Capital Officer at Funding Circle.

“Despite challenging market conditions, the positive reception for this issuance demonstrates continued investor appetite for these assets. We remain committed to empowering our institutional partners to effectively deploy capital to hardworking SMEs across the UK.”

Funding Circle’s technology-driven platform connects institutional capital with a wide array of UK SMEs, offering investors attractive, risk-adjusted returns while enabling small businesses to access vital funding. The SBOLT 2025-1 issuance also aligns with broader financial policy goals, supporting central banks’ calls to channel more lending into the real economy through capital markets.