Debt Advisory
At Andersen, our extensive knowledge of capital markets and comprehensive expertise in structuring financing and refinancing deals makes us the partner of choice for private equity funds, club deals, and investment holdings, as well as business owners, shareholders, and corporate management teams. We facilitate negotiations between our clients and Italian and international banks and banking and alternative debt funds (minibonds, DCM transactions, private placements, and ESG finance products).
We support our clients in the capital acquisition process by identifying sources of funding, including senior/junior and hybrid debt on the banking and private debt markets (leveraged buyouts, unitranche debt, mezzanine finance, hold-co financing).
We promote the sourcing of long-term debt solutions to shore up company growth and unlock planned investments. We assist our clients in drawing up a company business plan and identifying financing needs.
Our approach is to identify an optimal financial structure (in terms of debt-equity ratio, debt maturity schedules, the diversification of funding, and ideal pricing and contractual terms and conditions), to then source the best market financing opportunities to unlock our clients’ growth plans, acquisition plans, refinancing plans for existing debt, and international expansion plans, both within and beyond Europe.
Our team takes care of all the preliminary work for setting up transactions, such as the preparation of financial plans, the independent certification of restructuring plans, analyses of business, financial, and cash flow sustainability, while also providing guidance for strategies and in planning and carrying out market risk hedging (interest-rate and foreign exchange risk).
The Guarantee of Andersen Debt Advisory Services
Our team vaunts consolidated experience in corporate financing and restructuring in Italy and around the world, working with companies and major investment funds. We guarantee our clients best-in-class service in structuring, restructuring, and sourcing debt to cover their long-term financial needs, on the best market terms and conditions.
Assessing Bankability
When structuring, restructuring, and sourcing debt to cover long-term financial needs, it is essential to turn to experienced professionals to assess matters of bankability.
Our team analyzes the company’s performance in recent years and the asset and liability structure and financial position of the company or group as-is (committed/uncommitted credit facilities, debt recovery plans, existing financial documentation). The bankability of the transaction is also assessed in the light of the group’s business plan. Where necessary, a financial plan can be prepared to outline medium/long-term financial needs.
Identifying the Right Financial Instruments
Andersen provides comprehensive guidance in identifying the right financial instruments for the client’s needs (such as bilateral bank loans or pool loans, unitranche debt, public debt issues, private placements, etc.).
Together with the client, we identify potential lenders (Italian and international banks, Italian and international private debt funds, institutional lenders such as CDP, MCC, SACE, etc.) and prepare a timeline for the deal.
Preparing an Information Pack
Working with company management, we gather the information required to put together an information pack to present to potential lenders. Information packs contain a description of the company, including its history and business, an analysis of the sector and industry trends, coverage of the company’s track record, a background to the proposed transaction, the business plan, and budget.
Canvassing Potential Lenders
When it comes to canvassing potential lenders and eliciting preliminary interest in providing financing, our clients can rely on the expertise and experience of our team in its proactive approach to soliciting non-binding loan proposals from lenders and coordinating due diligence operations (where envisaged by the nature of the transaction).
Supporting Lenders in Credit/Investment Committee Meetings
Our professionals bring the authoritative expertise and experience that is essential for lenders in Q&A sessions and due diligence meetings with the client and advisory team, also when it comes to negotiating and signing a commitment letter (where envisaged by the nature of the transaction).
Negotiating Contractual Terms and Conditions
We select and coordinate legal advisors for lenders and manage the negotiation process for finalizing contractual documentation (loan contract/underwriting agreement, the security package, where envisaged, etc.).
Preliminary Work to Close the Deal
We assist the client through each of the steps required for the closing of the deal (KYC processes, funds flow, etc.) and manage the closing itself.
Debt Hedging Strategies
Loans usually involve the use of hedging derivatives to hedge interest rate risk, often through a hedging letter (IRS, CAP, Collar, etc.) scheduled to the term sheet. In other cases, loans may be denominated in a foreign currency and incorporate derivative instruments (such as cross currency swaps) to cover the foreign exchange component of the company’s cash flow.
Our specialist professionals assist clients in designing and implementing a hedging strategy, to help them choose the right derivatives for their needs and access the best market terms and conditions.
Seamless Service
We consistently aim to deliver the best possible outcome for our clients in relation to their needs.
In providing debt advisory, our professionals—with the client’s approval—work closely with other Andersen teams, including: Business Valuation & Modeling; Real Estate Valuation & Advisory; M&A Advisory; Deal Structure & Due Diligence Services; M&A Legal Services; Corporate Legal Services; Legal Restructuring; and International Tax.
Team leaders: Cesare Conti, partner; Paola Pellegrini, director