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British Business Bank increases commitment to £90m for DunPort managed SME credit fund

Press release 08 May 2025

DunPort Capital Management (“DunPort”), the Dublin headquartered, leading provider of flexible debt capital to Irish, UK and Benelux businesses, is pleased to announce an increased commitment to £90m from British Business Bank to support debt funding to lower mid-market companies through co-investment vehicle, Alder Corporate Credit DAC (“Alder”). This commitment represents a £40m uplift on the original fund amount, announced in May 2024.

Alder, managed by DunPort, provides tailored debt capital solutions to companies with a turnover of less than £100m that are wholly or predominantly based, headquartered, or operating in the UK. Since April 2024, Alder has invested £24m across five portfolio companies.

The Alder vehicle co-invests alongside DunPort managed funds, Oak Corporate Credit DAC which was launched in 2021, and Willow Corporate Credit DAC which was launched in 2024. DunPort investors include the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, the European Investment Fund and a number of other institutional investors.  

“The UK is a strategic market for DunPort and one in which we are continuing to experience strong and sustained demand from a wide range of sponsors, advisors and business owners for flexible debt solutions,” commented Pat Walsh, Executive Director of DunPort. “We are grateful for British Business Bank’s continued commitment increasing our capacity and enhancing our position as a leading alternative debt capital provider in the UK alongside our other core markets of Ireland and the Benelux region,” Mr Walsh said.

Adam Kelly, Managing Director and Co-Head of Funds, British Business Bank, said: 

We are excited to continue our partnership with DunPort, bringing our total commitment to £90m. Following our earlier commitment to DunPort, this £40m uplift will enable further support for growing UK businesses, providing them with the flexible debt solutions they require to develop their growth strategies

Further Information

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Notes to editors

About DunPort

DunPort Capital Management DAC (“DunPort”) is a leading Irish asset management company focused on the private debt asset class with over €800m in assets under management. Founded in 2017, DunPort provides flexible debt and hybrid capital solutions for SMEs and mid-sized corporates across Ireland, the UK and the Benelux region. DunPort has an experienced investment team of 20 professionals based in Dublin, London and Amsterdam and has advanced over €1bn to 70 companies since its formation.

Further details can be found at dunportcapital.ie.

About the British Business Bank

The British Business Bank is the UK government’s economic development bank. Established in November 2014, its mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK and to enable the transition to a net zero economy, by improving access to finance for smaller businesses. Its remit is to design, deliver and efficiently manage UK-wide smaller business access to finance programmes for the UK government.

The British Business Bank’s core programmes support over £17.4bn 1  of finance to almost 64,000 2  smaller businesses.

As well as increasing the supply and diversity of finance for UK smaller businesses through its programmes, the Bank works to raise awareness of finance options available to smaller businesses. The British Business Bank Finance Hub provides independent and impartial information to businesses about finance options, featuring short films, expert guides, checklists and articles from finance providers to help make their application a success. 

The British Business Bank is also responsible for administering the government’s three Coronavirus loan schemes and its Future Fund, together responsible for delivering £80.4bn in finance to 1.67m businesses. These schemes are now closed to new applications.

British Business Bank plc is a public limited company registered in England and Wales, registration number 08616013, registered office at Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ. It is a development bank wholly owned by HM Government. British Business Bank plc and its subsidiaries are not banking institutions and do not operate as such. With the exception of BBB Investment Services Limited they are not authorised or regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority or the Financial Conduct Authority. BBB Investment Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A complete legal structure chart for the group can be found at british-business-bank.co.uk.

The Investment Programme is operated by British Business Investments Ltd, a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of British Business Bank plc. British Business Investments Ltd is registered in England and Wales with company number 09091930, and registered office at Steel City House, West Street, Sheffield, S1 2GQ. 

The transaction described above does not constitute or imply any endorsement, warranty or recommendation by the UK government, British Business Bank plc or its subsidiaries or any other party in respect of Dunport Capital Management DAC or its products or services.

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