When you’re working through a shareholder split, a buyout, or a court-ordered payment, timing becomes the real pressure point. The business might be trading well, the balance sheet might be solid, and the deal terms might be agreed. But if the settlement date is close and your capital is tied up in property, investments, or operating cash, you can be forced into decisions that don’t suit you. Contact us today if you need to move quickly.
That’s where bridging loans for a shareholder settlement can help. At Secured Lending, we’ve advised and assisted borrowers through shareholder settlement transactions where speed, certainty, and clean execution matter. We have also facilitated over 500 strategic commercial loans to bridge the gap when timing is tight and options are limited. Secured Lending can help you move fast with a bridging loan for shareholder settlement. Assess your scenario today.
Why bridging finance works for shareholder settlements
A shareholder settlement often needs one thing above all else: certainty of funds by a specific date. Traditional bank processes can be slow, and disputes don’t wait for credit committees. Bridging finance is designed for time-sensitive situations, where you’re confident about the exit (sale, refinance, payout, or asset realisation) but you need capital now.
Here’s what bridging finance can do well in the context of a shareholder settlement:
- Meet a fixed deadline: Useful when your agreement includes a strict completion date, penalties, or reputational risk if delayed.
- Avoid a forced sale: Rather than selling an asset quickly at a discount, you can settle now and sell (or refinance) on your terms.
- Keep business operations stable: You can avoid draining working capital, which can protect payroll, suppliers, and growth plans while the dispute resolves.
- Simplify negotiations: Having funding confirmed can reduce brinkmanship and help you close the agreement faster.
- Support urgent outcomes: In some cases, you may need an urgent settlement to finalise a deed, satisfy a court timetable, or resolve an emergency cash requirement linked to the settlement.
In practical terms, bridging finance is often used to pay out one shareholder, fund an agreed equalisation amount, or cover settlement funds while you complete a longer-term refinance.
The real issue is rarely the deal. It’s the timing.
Most capable business owners can solve the shareholder problem commercially. What derails it is the gap between “agreed” and “funded”.
You might be:
- waiting for a property sale to complete,
- in the middle of a refinance that’s taking longer than expected, or
- holding value in assets but not in ready cash.
This is exactly the gap a bridging facility is meant to cover. It’s not long-term capital. It’s strategic capital to get you through a defined window so you can execute the settlement properly.
How Secured Lending helps you facilitate a shareholder settlement quickly
With shareholder settlements, you’re not just arranging a loan. You’re coordinating an outcome between lawyers, accountants, and sometimes the courts. Our role is to remove friction and keep things moving.
At Secured Lending, we structure secured business loans that match the reality of your settlement timetable. We focus on clear security, a defined exit strategy, and speed of execution—because the value of the facility is often in the time it saves.
What you can expect when we support your shareholder settlement:
- A fast initial review
We move quickly to understand the settlement amount, timing, security position, and your exit plan. You’ll get a direct view on whether the deal is workable and what the likely structure looks like. - A structure that fits the settlement mechanics
Shareholder matters are rarely neat. We can structure bridging finance to align with staged payments, simultaneous settlements, or conditions that must be met before funds are released. - Speed when you need it most
If your matter is time-sensitive, we can work toward funding within 24 hours in suitable scenarios, and in some cases Fast, same day settlement may be possible. This is particularly relevant where you’re facing an urgent settlement date and need certainty. - Loan sizes that match commercial reality
We can help you borrow up to $10million, depending on the security and overall scenario. That flexibility matters when the settlement is significant and you don’t want multiple lenders complicating the outcome. - Clear pricing upfront
Where applicable, we can discuss an interest rate starting at 9.2% p.a and outline the full cost picture (including establishment fees and legal costs) early, so you can make a clean decision. - Coordination with your advisors
We regularly work alongside your solicitor and accountant to align documentation, settlement dates, and payout directions. This matters in shareholder disputes where small delays can create big consequences.
We’ve assisted borrowers in urgent settlement situations by moving decisively, confirming what’s needed, and progressing directly to an executable outcome—without adding noise or unnecessary steps.
Commercial Bridging Finance: Private Lender options that can move at your pace
Private Lender in Australia
As a private lender in Australia, Secured Lending is a non-bank lender and we operate Australia wide: Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Canberra. That reach matters when your settlement is interstate, your security is in one location and the business in another, or your advisors are coordinating across jurisdictions.
If you’re searching for a commercial bridging finance solution because the bank timeframe doesn’t match your settlement deadline, this is where we can be effective: we’re built for time-sensitive bridging scenarios, provided the security and exit plan stack up.
How the process typically works
You don’t need a complicated process. You need a controlled one.
- You share the settlement timeline, amount required, and security details.
- We review feasibility and confirm the likely pathway.
- We coordinate valuation and legal steps as required.
- We work toward approval and settlement so you can complete the shareholder settlement on time.
The goal is simple: get the capital in place so the dispute can end, the settlement can complete, and you can get back to running the business with clarity.
FAQs
1. Can bridging finance be used to pay out a departing shareholder?
Yes. It’s commonly used to fund a buyout amount where your longer-term plan is to refinance, sell an asset, or restructure after the settlement completes.
2. What security is required for a bridging loan for a shareholder settlement?
These are typically secured against residential or commercial property. The strength of the security and your exit strategy are key to speed and approval.
3. How quickly can Secured Lending settle?
Depending on the scenario, we can work toward funding within 24 hours, and in some cases Fast, same day settlement may be possible where documentation and security allow.
4. What’s a realistic exit strategy for this type of bridging loan?
Common exits include refinance to a longer-term facility, sale of property, or a planned liquidity event. The exit needs to be clear and time-bound.
5. Can bridging finance help if the shareholder dispute is still being negotiated?
Potentially. If settlement terms are close and you need confidence you can perform, we can assess the likely structure. Final funding usually aligns to documented terms.
6. Is bridging finance suitable if I need an emergency settlement to meet a deed or court timeline?
Yes, that’s one of the practical uses of bridging finance. The key is having suitable property security and a credible plan to repay within the agreed term.
How We Can Help
If you’re approaching a shareholder settlement date and capital is the final obstacle, Secured Lending can review your scenario, structure a bridging solution, and coordinate the steps needed to reach settlement quickly. Secured Lending is a short-term lending solution you can rely on. When you’re ready, our team is here to help you move quickly and confidently. Our team specialises in urgent short term loans solutions.
