Pollen Street lifts Finbee Verslui lending facility to €55M
What's the deal? UK asset manager Pollen Street CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has increased its financing facility for Lithuanian SME lender Finbee Verslui (UAB Finansų bitė verslui) to €55 million. The commitment is lending capital rather than an equity round, raising the facility from €35 million. Investment director Paul Varty leads Pollen Street's role in the deal.
What's the endgame? The extra funds let Finbee raise its maximum business loan from €250,000 to €800,000, offer longer terms, and finance larger companies. Founded in 2017, the lender says it has financed more than 4,000 firms, issuing over €40 million in new loans in 2025.
Why now? Small businesses face tighter credit than large firms. A European Central Bank survey published in July 2026 found 43% of SMEs reported higher bank loan interest rates in the second quarter of this year.
What they're saying: "Since 2024, the Pollen Street investment allowed us to finance businesses in hours rather than days," said Finbee Verslui head Tomas Mačiulaitis (translated from Lithuanian). He added the increase means the company can fund "even more entrepreneurs who need working capital to grow."
Varty called Finbee Verslui "a well-managed company" with "a high-quality loan portfolio."
Founded in 2013, Pollen Street Capital manages more than €9 billion across private equity and credit strategies for investors including pension funds, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices.
The signal: Non-bank finance is gaining ground in Lithuania. The OECD says Lithuanian companies raised nearly €460 million through bonds and €280 million through crowdfunding in 2024 — together about 21% of bank lending to companies. The €20 million top-up signals investor confidence in platform lending as traditional credit tightens.
Read more: vz.lt
Image credit: TeaMeister
