Acquisition lenders usually take security across the whole group: the company you buy through and the business you're buying. Most also ask for a personal guarantee.
Typical security
- A debenture over the assets of both companies. See What is a debenture?
- Charges over property owned by the business.
- A charge over the shares of the business you're buying.
- Guarantees between group companies, so each supports the borrowing.
- A personal guarantee from you. See Will I have to give a personal guarantee to buy a business?.
Registering the security
Charges over company assets are registered at Companies House, usually by the lender's solicitors, within 21 days of being created.
Under the Growth Guarantee Scheme
If part of the deal uses a GGS facility, the lender can't take your main home as security.
Before you sign
Security documents are detailed. Have your solicitor review them, especially what counts as a default and how the security can be enforced.
Last reviewed: 8 October 2026