Sometimes, things go horribly, horribly wrong. Markets collapse, customers vanish, and successful companies turn into loss-makers. Or else you get blindsided by fraud or litigation that threatens to ruin your company. This is where you need expert help.
What I can do for you
Here’s the good news – I’ve rescued some or all of over 75% of the distressed companies I’ve worked with. I’ve fixed some horrendous problems, sometimes involving hundreds of millions of pounds, even after other teams have given up in despair. I can do a top-to-bottom crisis review of your entire operation, figure out where the real problems lie, and help you find solutions quickly.
So don’t panic. Whatever your problem, I’ve got your back.
Investment or acquisition
Often business owners think that all they need is an injection of cash to get out of trouble. You might think that a loan will ‘tide me over’, or new investors or new owners might provide fresh cash. Sometimes it can. Sometimes your company has enough assets, good enough future cash flow, and a strong enough business plan to enable that to happen. Sadly, if you are in financial distress, you may not be able to find anyone willing to lend or invest, and you probably do not have the time to manage the process while dealing with the underlying causes of the crisis.
Sometimes, you can only get cash if you have already solved the problems that caused you to need it. Sometimes the very best way to raise investment or be acquired is not to need to do so.
I’m highly experienced at helping you focus on solving the underlying crises, while finding the help you really need. Once we know that the problem is not getting worse, and that there is a cash positive future, I can get you to the right sort of lenders and investors, and help you get the best possible terms for you, your business, your shareholders and your staff. I will ensure that the process is efficient and complete, and minimize distractions that stop you from running the business you love.
I raised £250k of short term support for a tricky property turnaround.
Pivoting
In many cases, your best option is to find a new direction. That often takes a fresh pair of eyes: someone who doesn’t have a stake in the existing business can bring new perspectives and can offer impartial advice.
I can help you find new opportunities or new ways of working that you may not have considered. We can explore new markets, new products, new marketing and pricing strategies, and new ways of working. This can help you get your company back on track and ready to meet new challenges.
Helped a Swedish innovation consultancy pivot to online during COVID and made them the #1 rated course in Europe.
Restructuring
If your company isn’t working efficiently, you need to consider changing parts of it. This could involve reducing headcount, changing the management, or separating profitable and loss-making divisions into different entities. That’s often a major challenge for management teams who can’t imagine working in any other way, or don’t want to face having to make loyal staff redundant.
This is where I can provide invaluable advice. I bring an external perspective, which means I’m impartial and able to come up with unexpected and out of the box suggestions. I can help you create new corporate structures that are efficient, profitable, and highly focused on success. I can help you manage the transition, file any required paperwork, and set up new management teams.
Worked with a film production and financing company to achieve $10 million positive cash flow in 6 months, reduce interest burden by 50%, achieve SOX compliance, and improve auditor relations
Forensic accounting
If money’s going missing, you need to stop the leaks – fast. But criminals – either inside or outside the company – are often expert at covering their tracks. Finding and identifying the problem takes expert skills, particularly if the theft or fraud involves multiple companies or jurisdictions.
I’ve been a forensic accountant for over 30 years. I’ve tracked down and put a stop to numerous multi-million pound frauds – and, in many cases, recovered a significant proportion of the money. If you’re worried that something doesn’t look right, let me investigate.
Helped the World Bank, HSBC and a Spanish merchant bank recover stolen assets worth over $25m.
Litigation and arbitration
Whether you’re the defendant or the plaintiff, lawsuits are costly, nerve-wracking, time-consuming, and risky. Should you settle, or should you fight? How do you give yourself the best chance of winning? And how do you find the time to deal with this while trying to run your company?
I’m not a lawyer, but I can shoulder some of that burden and give you impartial advice on how to proceed. I’ve provided expert testimony for many cases, and I’ve helped clients resolve disputes with customers, suppliers, or investors without needing to go to court.
Resolved a fee dispute in excess of $10 million where the client believed costs and expenses had been fraudulently reported.
Bankruptcy
If the company is completely unsalvageable, you need to consider a worst-case scenario. Or you may have been threatened with bankruptcy proceedings by a creditor. It’s one of the most heart-breaking and challenging situations you can face, with potential long-term ramifications that can affect you both personally and professionally.
But it’s not always as bleak as you fear. I’m not a licensed insolvency practitioner, but I can help you find ways to avoid bankruptcy by restructuring your debts, negotiating with your creditors, or exploring other options. And if bankruptcy is the best solution, I’ll help you assess whether voluntary liquidation would be preferable to compulsory liquidation, minimize the personal impact, help you find a liquidator and ensure that everything is handled according to the law.
I worked with a professional services firm in extreme cashflow distress to enable them to keep trading for over a year until a buyer could be found.
I used an obscure provision of insolvency legislation to resolve a shareholder deadlock and recover over £2m of value.
