Specialist SME lender Praetura has secured a £150 million back-to-back asset-based lending facility with NatWest.
The facility empowers Praetura to increase the funding capacity of its sales finance division, which backs businesses with a range of products including invoice discounting, asset-based lending and cash flow loans.
Praetura’s latest announcement builds on an existing relationship with NatWest, which was the inaugural funder in Praetura’s sales finance division – first launched as Praetura Commercial Finance in 2016.
The business has trebled its loan book to £600m in the past five years, including support for more than 1,500 UK SMEs in 2025, with £328m worth of funding.
Its 150-strong team has offices across the North West, with additional presence in London, the Midlands, the South and the North East.
Peadar O’Reilly, chief executive at Praetura, said: “Closing this facility with a renowned and respected institution reflects the quality of the whole Praetura business, and empowers us to offer more extensive funding support to UK SMEs as they continue to navigate both the challenges and opportunities created by the current economic outlook.
“The entire organisation remains committed to a common goal of supporting the sustainable growth of these businesses and we are grateful for NatWest’s backing to help us do exactly that.”
Andrew Barraclough, head of ABL origination at NatWest, added: “We are delighted to support Praetura with this significant facility. The business has an experienced management team, strong credit discipline and an excellent track record in supporting UK SMEs.
“NatWest has a long history of backing specialist and alternative lenders through structured ABL and back‑to‑back solutions, helping extend funding safely and responsibly across the UK economy.”
Last year Praetura’s venture capital division Praetura Ventures announced a merger with Par Equity, creating PXN Group.