Developing commercial solutions for cross-border businesses facing financial difficulties requires the ability to resolve cultural, jurisdictional and financial differences. It demands access to relevant, on-the-ground expertise in the jurisdictions where your business or business partners operate.

We offer locally based international understanding. We work closely with UK and international lenders, lawyers, regulators, advisers and other agencies to navigate the complexities of international financial restructuring and to achieve maximum realisations for you or your clients.

Working with our international network of partner firms, including CLA Global and Oaklins International, we deliver solutions tailored to your business and local jurisdictions.

How our international restructuring and insolvency practitioners can help

If you are facing financial pressures, issues with major customers or suppliers, or challenges from key stakeholders, we can help in a variety of ways:

Advising on turnaround solutions or special situations
Examining business viability, operations and financial performance
Reorganising corporate groups
Undertaking investigations, with support from our internal specialist forensics team
Helping with distressed debt advisory, with support from our internal specialist transactions team
Supporting formal insolvency proceedings

International credentials

Formal insolvencies

1. International accelerated business and asset sale – fintech

Following a successful three month international, accelerated M&A process, we acted as administrators to sell Brickvest, an online real estate investment platform, to German real estate investment business PATRIZIA AG.
2. International asset sales – retail

Online retailer Boohoo engaged us to realise the company’s assets in Germany, as a result of our extensive retail experience and other international work for global clients.
3. International investment opportunities – oil and gas

Acting as administrators to a UK-based international oil and gas specialist resources group, we marketed and sold shares in the solvent US subsidiary following a deep restructure of the business.

Restructuring advisory and special situations

1. Business rescue – recruitment and energy

Our client was a £200m turnover international recruitment firm supplying specialist employees to build and run windfarms around the world. Following huge growth, the company was growing too fast for its underlying working capital requirements, with its bank and other lenders owed £35m.

S&W were engaged to support the company on a turnaround plan, which involved improving the cost structure, rebuilding projections and assisting with cashflow management and working capital flow. Alongside these efforts, a key aspect of the turnaround was rebuilding confidence through weekly presentations to the bank and other lenders.

Within a few months of our appointment, the firm moved from being loss-making and at risk of a formal insolvency to profitability with an estimated enterprise value of £70m.

Asset tracing

1. Personal insolvency

Acting as trustee in the bankruptcy of a high-profile individual, we identified several properties owned by him. Working with local partners, we prevented the properties being transferred, and registered our interest with the federal authorities, before ultimately selling them for the creditors’ benefit.
2. International fraud – financial sector

Litigation is often the biggest potential asset within an insolvent estate. Acting as administrators to a UK based seller of mini bonds to national and international clients, we successfully brought claims in the UK high court establishing fraud. We are now in the process of tracing and securing assets worth an estimated £237m, across the globe.
3. International freezing order – financial services

We have extensive experience in obtaining freezing orders and other interim reliefs. Acting as special administrators, we recently obtained a freezing order over financial securities held in the British Virgin Islands.

International networks

CLA Global

S&W is a founding member of CLA Global, a market-leading international accounting network of independent firms. CLA Global serves clients in over 100 countries, focusing on privately-owned international businesses and their owners.

Through this global network and our breadth of experience, we offer a quality, international service for your business, whether expanding overseas, moving into the UK or already operating internationally.

Oaklins S&W

S&W is a member of Oaklins International, one of the world’s most experienced mid-market M&A advisers. Globally, Oaklins has completed over 1,900 deals over the past five years.

When appropriate, we collaborate with our corporate finance colleagues in Oaklins S&W to tap into their international network of 800+ colleagues across 40 countries, drawing on industry specialists with deep local connections around the world.

These networks combined allow us to deliver a truly global, cross border restructuring service.

Get in touch

Let our cross-border insolvency experts navigate complexity and create opportunity for you and your business. Get into contact today about how we can help.