Wholesale & Institutional Funding Lines
We arrange wholesale funding lines, warehouse facilities, and institutional capital for non-bank property lenders entering or scaling in the UK market. Including overseas-backed platforms, family-office funded lenders, and established bridging businesses seeking institutional leverage.
Transaction range: £2m – £100m+
Key features
- Warehouse Facilities
- Forward Flow
- Up to 90% Advance
- Overseas Lenders
- Full Model Suite
Wholesale Funding Lines Explained
A wholesale funding line, also referred to as a warehouse facility or leverage line, is an institutional credit facility provided to a non-bank lender to fund its loan book at scale. Rather than deploying entirely from equity capital, the lender uses the wholesale line to leverage its own capital, increasing deployment capacity and improving return on equity.
The economics of running a lending business change fundamentally when wholesale leverage is in place. A lender with £10m of equity deploying at 1:1 can write £10m of loans. The same lender with a warehouse facility at 80% advance can write £50m of loans on the same equity base. Return on equity improves proportionally and the lender can compete more effectively on pricing and volume.
We work with three types of client: new entrants setting up a UK bridging or short-term lending platform; established lenders seeking to replace or supplement existing funding lines with better-structured institutional capital; and overseas-backed platforms deploying international capital into the UK lending market who need a wholesale funding structure to operate at institutional scale.
Every wholesale funding mandate includes a bespoke financial model suite: loan book origination and cashflow forecasting, warehouse utilisation and covenant testing, investor reporting templates, and P&L and balance sheet projections across multiple scenarios — all built to institutional standard. A wholesale capital provider requires a credible, documented credit policy before committing capital. We design and document credit policies, underwriting procedures, delegation authorities, and exception frameworks that satisfy institutional due diligence requirements.
Benefits
- Advance rates up to 90% achievable where appropriate
- Access to specialist credit funds and institutional debt providers
- Bespoke financial model suite included as standard
- Credit policy and risk framework design
- Full operational launch support available
- Expertise with overseas-backed platforms entering the UK market
Ideal for
- New entrants setting up a UK bridging or short-term lending platform
- Established lenders seeking better-structured institutional capital
- Overseas-backed platforms deploying international capital into UK lending
- Family offices entering the UK lending market
- Bridging lenders seeking to scale deployment capacity
- Lenders needing credit policy and operational infrastructure support
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a warehouse facility and a forward flow?
A warehouse facility is a revolving credit line against which the lender draws to fund individual loans as originated. A forward flow is a commitment to purchase loans meeting agreed criteria as they are originated, at an agreed price. Forward flows are simpler operationally but involve selling the loans rather than retaining them.
What advance rate is achievable on a UK bridging loan warehouse?
Typically 70% to 90% of the face value of eligible loans, depending on asset type, LTV parameters, lender quality controls, and originator strength. Higher advance rates are achievable where the loan book has tight concentration limits and robust underwriting documentation.
Can an overseas-backed lender set up a UK wholesale funding line?
Yes. Unicorn Capital Advisory has arranged wholesale funding for a Hong Kong-backed platform entering the UK bridging market. The structure involves a UK-registered lending entity deploying overseas equity capital, with the wholesale leverage line sitting alongside it in the UK legal structure.
How long does it take to arrange a wholesale funding line?
Three to six months from initial engagement to first drawdown, depending on structural complexity and the pace of due diligence. The financial model build and credit policy documentation can be developed in parallel with the funding line negotiation.
Do you also help with operational infrastructure, not just the funding?
Yes. Unicorn Capital Advisory provides support across the full lender launch journey: wholesale funding origination, credit policy and risk frameworks, KYC/AML documentation, solicitor and valuation panels, loan management systems, and digital origination infrastructure.
Offices
Registered and North of England office: Ayrshire Lodge, Brass Castle Lane, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, TS8 9EB.
London office: 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF.
Telephone +44 7746 212528. Email som@unicorn-commercial.co.uk
Unicorn Capital Advisory is a trading name of Unicorn Capital Advisory LLP (LLP No. OC459692). Finance is arranged for business purposes only and is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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