ThinCats
Mid-market SME term lender focused on the £1m to £30m ticket band (its own figures). Shawbrook Group completed its acquisition of ThinCats Group Limited on 30 September 2025 (Shawbrook RNS). Companies House lists the older Business Loan Network Limited (07248014) as in liquidation. The ThinCats brand continues for established broker-introduced mid-market deals through Shawbrook. For most use cases, refer to the Shawbrook entry.
Quick verdict
- Product: Mid-market SME term loans (now part of Shawbrook Group).
- Ticket band: £1m to £30m.
- Pricing: Bespoke, quoted at offer.
At a glance
ThinCats, at a glance
- Legal entity
- ThinCats (now part of Shawbrook Group)
- Ownership checked
- 23 September 2026, against Companies House and published sources
- Founded
- 2011
- Product
- Mid-market SME term loans (now part of Shawbrook Group)
- Ticket range
- £1m to £30m
- Decision time
- 2 to 6 weeks
- Ltd-only
- Yes
Where ThinCats is strong
- Genuine mid-market specialism (£1m to £30m).
- Now backed by Shawbrook's PRA-regulated balance sheet.
- Established broker channel and adviser-introduced cases.
- Strong record on management buyouts, acquisitions and growth capital.
Watch-outs, and when another lender may suit better
- Long underwriting cycle (2 to 6 weeks); not a speed product.
- Broker or adviser-introduced only; no direct self-serve route.
- Pricing bespoke; not published.
- Now part of Shawbrook Group, so check which group entity you will contract with.
Best fit applicants
- Mid-market SMEs £1m+
- MBOs, acquisitions and growth capital
- Broker or adviser-introduced cases
Where ThinCats is the wrong fit
- Sub-£1m tickets (consider Shawbrook proper or Funding Circle)
- Self-serve borrowers
- Speed-prioritised cases
If declined by ThinCats
If your application to ThinCats is declined, ask the lender for the reason in writing. Some alternatives are named in the watch-outs section above. See also our guide to why lenders decline, by reason.
Other lenders we list
- 365 Business Finance, Merchant cash advance (revenue-based finance)
- Aldermore, Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages
- Allica Bank, SME term loan, asset finance + commercial mortgage
- Bizcap, Specialist post-decline / fast cash
How we rate ThinCats
This review is FundBiz's own editorial assessment, scored against a published framework. See our methodology for how we rate each lender.
FAQ
What can I borrow through ThinCats?
ThinCats offers mid-market sme term loans (now part of shawbrook group). Ticket range: £1m to £30m. Typical rate: Bespoke, quoted at offer.
How long does ThinCats take to decide?
2 to 6 weeks
Who is ThinCats the best fit for?
First on the list: Mid-market SMEs £1m+. The full list is under Best fit applicants above.
When might another lender suit better than ThinCats?
First on the list: Sub-£1m tickets (consider Shawbrook proper or Funding Circle). The other cases are under Where ThinCats is the wrong fit above.
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Send an enquiry →Official site: ThinCats
Last updated: . By Adam Parker. FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.