As government support schemes wind down, the UK may see more troubled mergers and acquisitions.
There has been a lot of M&A activity in the UK due to the pandemic’s economic effects. Now, with less support coming from the government, we might see even more businesses trying to sell or merge. Burges Salmon, a leading law firm, is getting ready for a busy season ahead. They stress the importance of good legal advice and quick actions in these situations.
Dealing with the legal challenges of troubled mergers and acquisitions in the UK is complex. It involves laws like the Enterprise Act 2002 and the Companies Act 2006. There’s also the need to watch out for issues like national security and bankruptcy laws.
The Competition and Markets Authority in the UK watches over these deals closely. They make sure there’s fair play and that foreign investment follows the rules. Directors and company officers might face problems like personal financial risk. This makes getting the right legal advice very important to avoid trouble.
Burges Salmon plans to help by focusing on important topics. This will include things like pension rights, employee issues, and how to check a company thoroughly before buying it. They will also look at how to use certain financial tools to help struggling companies.
While some buyers might be cautious, others, such as investors, may be ready to make deals. However, they will also face lots of legal obstacles. Financial investors might find opportunities in this troubled market. Still, they need to be very careful and know the legal ropes well.
Understanding Distressed M&A in the UK
Distressed M&A in the UK targets businesses facing financial problems. This method has become more popular as the UK changes its financial support due to the pandemic. It brings challenges and chances for both financial investors and buyers. Transactions are attractive because sellers want to move on. This offers a way for bold investors to create value.
Despite recent economic issues, the UK’s market for distressed M&A is growing. Sectors like retail, manufacturing, and tech are expected to offer many opportunities. Strategic buyers are less involved, which gives financial investors a stronger position. However, buyers need to be ready for the risks and legal issues of these deals.
The rules around distressed M&A in the UK are detailed. Laws like the NSI Act and Companies Act set the scene. Oversight from groups like the CMA and the FCA adds to the complexity. Knowing these legal details is key to success in these deals.
Distressed M&A deals move quickly, often completed in days. This is much faster than usual M&A deals, which can take weeks or months. There are challenges, including less time for checking the business, and the deals may be worth less. Directors and officers have to carefully follow laws to protect shareholders and creditors.
Deciding how to structure these transactions is critical. Some might choose secure debt, which can give them power in talks. Good advice is crucial for success. Distressed M&A is hard work but can be very rewarding for those who understand the legal and financial parts demanded.
Key Legal Challenges in Distressed M&A
The economy has made more firms in England and Wales go bust. This issue is worse than any time since 2009 due to the COVID-19 funds stopping, high inflation, and bigger interest rates. Because of this, doing deals on struggling firms has become harder, with lots of legal risks and the need for smart legal help.
A popular move for struggling companies is the Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA). These became 14% more common in October 2023, showing they work well. A CVA helps a business make a deal with its debtors to survive. Also, plans to restructure are key for companies trying to bounce back financially.
When a company is in trouble, out of court deals and selling up are the two paths it might take. The first path includes a time-out from being sued to try and sort things out. This keeps the business afloat and directors must be careful to follow all laws and duties.
Buying a distressed firm often means you have to act fast with not much time to check things properly. This makes good legal advice crucial to avoid hidden problems. Getting insurance to cover these risks is one way. However, quick deals mean there aren’t many safeguards in the contracts, so buyers need to be very careful.
Deals involving troubled firms can be international and now more attention is paid to these by governments. They especially care about deals in key areas like healthcare, to make sure they’re safe. A brand-new law even says some deals must be approved for national security reasons.
Who’s buying also faces checking for monopoly breaking, not just the biggest deals. This shows that every deal needs to watch out for going against competition laws. Choosing what’s best for everyone, like investors, those owed money, and workers, is very tough. Plus, there’s often not much time to sort it all out.
The UK distressed M&A scene is full of challenges. It needs careful legal planning to deal with the risks effectively.
Structuring a Distressed M&A Deal
When looking at distressed M&A deals, a big choice is between selling shares or assets. This choice depends on the company’s reputation and relationships with stakeholders. Buyers usually prefer acquiring assets because it means less risk and they don’t need to inspect the company as thoroughly. Knowing how the company’s money is spread out and clearly outlining your offers to those in charge is really important.
New laws, like the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act, are changing how we handle these deals. Directors are more at risk, especially if they engage in wrongful or fraudulent trading. They need to keep very good records that prove they’re doing their best to keep the company going. Tension among buyers and a good plan to lower risks can help the selling company get a better deal.
Both buyers and sellers have to move fast in these situations. Sellers needing quick sales and buyers must be sure they can pay and aren’t asking for too many conditions. Choosing between selling assets or shares carefully can help the selling company reduce its risks and make more money. With less help from the government, more companies might be up for sale, including those in the retail, manufacturing, and finance sectors. Investors with lots of money might be looking to make deals.
Due Diligence in Distressed M&A
In distressed mergers and acquisitions, due diligence should be quick and focused. It’s all about looking at the most important areas for the deal’s value. There’s usually not much time or many guarantees, so it’s key to check into things deeply.
This includes the company’s finances and legal situation, its main staff, and any ESG issues. These are the top priorities, helping to narrow down what to look at closely.
Recent challenges have made businesses struggle more, leading to an uptick in deals under stress. This means the checking phase has to be faster than before, happening in just a few days. Buyers have to be really quick, adapting to the fact that sellers might not provide much safety net. They might rely on insurance to cover some risks, but this insurance might not cover everything due to the rush of the deal.
During the checking, buyers might find problems like bills not paid or money issues showing the company’s not doing well. It’s crucial to solve these red flags early to see if buying the company still makes sense. Also, making sure the deal follows all laws and checks is really important. Right from the start, being prepared for things like antitrust checks to issues related to international investment, deep investigations are needed.
Regulatory Concerns and Compliance
Distressed M&A transactions in the UK face serious checks from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSI Act). Since January 2022, this NSI Act has made big changes. Now, certain deals need to be reported for security concerns. Not reporting these can make the deal invalid.
Any investment that could harm national security will now be checked closely. It’s crucial to handle these rules well. Because of this, some buyers might slow down in buying troubled companies. They may first sort out their own businesses or sell ones they don’t need.
Companies with lots of money might become more interested in these deals. They can deal better with the rules because they are flexible. The UK is seeing lots of deal-making due to easy access to loans and new chances after the pandemic. This is creating chances for deals in many areas like retail, manufacturing, transport, and more.
Lenders are also facing more competition, mainly because of worries about the economy and high debts. As more deals happen, we might see more efforts to fix and rearrange businesses in 2023. Following the law closely during these times, especially laws about money problems and how businesses are run, is very important. Groups like the Pensions Regulator will watch to make sure deals handle pensions well.
Managing Stakeholder Interests
It’s key to balance the needs of stakeholders like lenders and creditors in a sale under financial strain. In England and Wales, the number of business failures is the highest since 2009. From September 2022 to October 2023, Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) saw a 14% rise. This makes effective handling of sale processes even more vital. Despite the rush in distressed deals, a thorough check is still important.
Sellers must be open to get the right value for what they’re selling. Buyers should focus on the assets’ clear ownership, claims to keep them, and the current use of securities. A law from 2021 requires making sure all rules are followed to avoid deals becoming void later.
Directors have to be sure a sale in tough times has a good chance of going through. Because sellers offer limited promises, buyers need to check everything carefully. This includes the assets’ ownership, debts, and employee benefits.
Also, talking clearly with everyone involved when a business is being reorganised or closed is vital. This keeps things running more smoothly. By fulfilling their legal obligations and sharing updates, sellers in trouble can get through these tough times better.
Directors’ Responsibilities and Liabilities
In tough financial times, the duties of directors change a lot. If a company might go bankrupt, directors must look after the rights of those the company owes money first. The Companies Act 2006 clearly states these rules and says directors must act in the best interests of the people the company owes if it’s at risk of insolvency. This is very important as corporate insolvencies in England and Wales have reached levels not seen since 2009. This makes following the law very crucial.
Issues like the recent 14% increase in Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) from September 2022 to October 2023 show how important it is for directors to understand their statutory duties. They must not do anything that could harm the creditors or lead to them being personally responsible. When it comes to selling a company quickly because of financial problems, directors must ensure that these sales benefit both the company’s owners and its creditors.
In England and Wales, there are mainly two types of processes for companies in trouble. The first kind of processes, like Administration and CVAs, try to rescue the business by restructuring it. The other kind focuses on closing the business and selling its assets. Directors have to predict the chance of insolvency and protect the interests of those the company owes. The more the company’s financial situation worsens, the more directors must think carefully about their decisions and how they affect the creditors.
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has made it clear that, in hard times, directors must consider more than just following the law. They must think about the effects of their decisions on all stakeholders, including employees and the environment. The rules are complex, but it’s important for directors to stick to them to avoid legal problems and manage company risk in a smart way.
Approaches for Valuation and Financing
In 2023, the number of distressed M&A deals will go up. This surge comes as the world faces hard economic times and global uncertainties. In such deals, the way companies are valued can be tricky. This is especially true when there’s a risk of deals being seen as fraudulent. Deals move fast, so getting all the needed info quickly is key for those buying.
Those with money looking to invest face challenges in getting loans right now. They need to pick their investment moves smartly. Getting the financing ready early for a deal is crucial. This often means looking for deals that are worth it. It also means making sure the team working on the deal is sharp and the process is smooth, so everything gets done in time.
Buying certain parts of a company while avoiding its debts is common. It lets buyers get what they want while not taking on the full bag of debts. Yet, the lack of good financial details and important staff can slow things down. To make the right financial plans, clever ways to value these assets are vital. They help set the right price and financing deals that are fair and follow the law.
Those selling companies want the money part arranged quickly and surely. For these deals, what happens before the deal is final, and the chance to get new loans, is very important. Wrapping it all up with smart ways to share risks, like through insurance, helps keep everyone happy and safe.
Dealing with the back and forth of agreeing on a price in these special deals needs care. Often, deals are made taking into account the unknowns about the company’s money situation. Finding creative ways to pay, based on what the deal’s future holds, can help in these cases. This way, both sides get a fair deal, which is key to success.
Risk Allocation and Mitigation Strategies
Economic uncertainty has led to more troubled M&A deals. The key now is handling and reducing risks. These deals differ because sellers might not offer standard protections like warranties. To make deals work, buyers need smart strategies, like adjusting prices or getting insurance. Early legal talks can also set up important contract safeguards.
Buyers must do thorough checks in a short time. They should look closely at financial deals, tech systems, and tax situations. It’s also important to check key documents, asset ownership, and employee rights. Knowing the law around pensions and security laws is essential too. All of this is crucial for dealing with risks and legal negotiations.
Warranty and indemnity (W&I) insurance can lessen some risks but might not cover everything. Talking with insurers early can strengthen a buyer’s hand. Expert advice is crucial for both sides in these deals. They help deal with complicated risks, ensure everyone follows the law, and handle tricky issues like antitrust rules well.
With more troubled deals expected as aid decreases, planning and fast action are key. Directors need to juggle staying afloat, avoiding personal risk, and making shareholders happy. Recent changes to UK insolvency law also affect how investments should be structured. These updates aim to help parties fight financial problems while cutting risks.
