Castlelake and TradeBridge Unveil New £70 Million Financing Deal to Boost SME Growth and E-Commerce

Castlelake and TradeBridge Collaborate for Business Growth

In a significant move to bolster the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, Castlelake, L.P., a prominent player in alternative investment management, has reached an agreement with fintech lender TradeBridge for a substantial funding package. This new financing facility is set at £70 million and marks an essential step in Castlelake's commitment to asset-based private credit.

The partnership aims to provide TradeBridge with the necessary resources to expand its lending capabilities, specifically targeting B2B and B2C e-commerce marketplace clients. A key focus of this initiative is to support UK-based Amazon sellers, facilitated through TradeBridge's newly formed strategic alliance with Amazon. This funding follows Castlelake's previous provision of a £100 million financing facility in 2023, aimed at enhancing revenue-based financing solutions for various sectors, including pharmacies and dental practices across the UK and Australia.

Alex Curcio, a partner at Castlelake, expressed enthusiasm regarding this expanded partnership: "We are pleased to provide TradeBridge with additional financing as it continues to serve the small-business sector while offering our investors attractive opportunities. We recognize the vital role of innovative financing solutions in the growth of businesses, especially in an environment where traditional capital sources are tightening."

TradeBridge has been a pioneer in providing flexible and scalable finance solutions to SMEs, enabling them to thrive in today’s competitive economic landscape. Mark Coxhead, Co-CEO of Product and Portfolio at TradeBridge, highlighted the impact of the collaboration with Castlelake: "Our partnership has played a pivotal role in extending credit to thousands of SMEs across multiple countries. This new facility enhances our ability to support the growth of various marketplace ecosystems, including our recent collaboration with Amazon, allowing us to provide Term Financing to UK sellers."

Since its founding in 2015, Castlelake has carved a niche in both acquiring assets and offering property-based private credit. To date, the firm has invested over $15 billion in such opportunities, facilitating more than 20 million consumer accounts.

Founded in 2005, Castlelake manages approximately $25 billion in assets for a diverse global investor base. With a team of over 220 professionals across seven offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, Castlelake is well-equipped to take on significant market challenges.

On the other hand, TradeBridge has been empowering SMEs for over a decade through innovative embedded finance solutions from its locations in London, Singapore, and Sydney. The company has provided more than £5 billion in capital to businesses, strengthening their capacity for growth amidst a dynamic global market.

The introduction of this £70 million financing facility enhances TradeBridge’s ability to empower an even wider array of businesses and reinforces Castlelake's role as a critical partner in the evolving landscape of SME financing. As these two firms continue to navigate the complexities of modern commerce, their collaborative efforts promise to unlock new avenues of growth for their clients, ensuring they remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.