Create breathing room
Negotiated temporary interest and principal relief with lenders so management could stabilize operations and execute a recovery plan.
Selected work · 03
Restructuring · Refinancing · Ownership transition
An underwater balance sheet was restructured while the business recovered from a severe downturn.
The situation
Revenue declined by 60%, financial covenants were breached and both lenders wanted to exit. The balance sheet was underwater and the company could not meet scheduled interest and principal payments.
The immediate objective was to create enough time for the underlying business to recover while finding an ownership and capital structure acceptable to every stakeholder.
The work
Negotiated temporary interest and principal relief with lenders so management could stabilize operations and execute a recovery plan.
Worked with the board and private lender on a debt-to-equity conversion that materially reduced leverage and enabled an ownership transition.
Ran a competitive refinancing process and secured a new senior facility with more affordable and flexible capital.
Results
The company refinanced with a new senior lender, repaid the incumbent bank, converted private debt to equity and transitioned ownership while revenues recovered substantially from the downturn low.
Why this experience matters
Clear financial information, realistic forecasts, disciplined preparation and credible stakeholder communication create more options when a financing or transaction becomes difficult.
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