When the goal of a financially distressed business owner is to sell with minimum publicity, free of unsecured debt and potential liability for directors and management, the most advantageous exit path may be an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (ABC). Most buyers won’t acquire the assets of an insolvent entity unless the assets are “cleansed” through an ABC or bankruptcy process. Typically, the board of the troubled entity has decided that a rapid sale is in the best interests of the company and its creditors, and it is aware of a handful of likely strategic buyers. This article briefly explains how an ABC works and its advantages and disadvantages.

How does an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors work?

In an ABC, the shareholders of a troubled company (the “Assignor”) voluntarily assign the title, custody and control of its assets to an independent third party (“Assignee”) of their choosing who acts as a fiduciary to the creditors of the business.  The Assignee’s role is to similar to that of a bankruptcy trustee. They are responsible for selling the assets of the business and distributing proceeds to creditors. The business may continue to operate and can be sold as a going concern if the Assignee believes that will maximize value to creditors. If creditors are paid in full, any surplus proceeds will go to the shareholders.

Advantages of an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors

1. Faster than a bankruptcy process, which preserves business value.
2. More flexible, efficient and cost-effective than bankruptcy.
3. Company management can select an Assignee with appropriate experience and expertise.
4. A sale is less likely to be challenged since the Assignee acts on behalf of creditors.
5. The business can continue to operate to maximize value.
6. Not secret, but much quieter than a bankruptcy case.

An ABC often involves an auction sale process, which maximizes sale proceeds and protects buyers. They can even be prepackaged, which means there is a 3-way negotiation between a seller, a proposed assignee, and a buyer or buyers. The ABC happens and is immediately followed by the sale closing.

ABC’s do have some disadvantages. Because, in California at least, the ABC process is nonjudicial, there is no court supervision and no court order, so there is less certainty for buyers. Also, relative to bankruptcy, an ABC requires the cooperation of secured creditors and counterparties to leases and contracts.

This is the fifth in a recent series of articles from Exit Strategies’ senior team with insights on valuing and selling distressed businesses. See Insights.

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Al Statz is President and founder of Exit Strategies Group, a leading California-based M&A advisory firm with decades of experience selling companies in all conditions. For further information, or if you are interested in exploring the potential sale or acquisition of a financially troubled business, contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580 to discuss your needs, circumstances and options, confidentially. 

When we talk about recapitalization, we’re talking about a partial sale of a company that allows the owner to liquidate some of the value they have in their business. Typically, this involves selling a part of your equity (usually 70-80%) to a third-party, however some business owners do sell just a minority stake.

Recapitalizations are a standard investment tool for private equity firms. They have investor dollars they need to put to work and a timeline in which they’re expected to deliver returns. So they buy businesses with the intent of growing them and/or repackaging them with synergistic businesses for resale approximately 5 to 7 years down the road.

Using this playbook, they generally prefer to buy businesses with an active owner or strong management team in place. You or your existing leadership team will continue to run the business day-to-day while the private equity investor provides resources and assistance to fuel new growth.

Advantages of a Recapitalization

Liquidity: As a business owner, you may have all your financial resources tied up in the business. A partial sale allows you to take some chips off the table, securing your financial future.

Professionalize the business: Recapitalizations can have the effect of increasing management rigor. Your investment partner may help you implement new reporting practices, processes or management software. While these tools help you remain accountable to your new partners, they can also help the business make more informed, data-driven decisions.

And because private equity excels in developing businesses for resale, they understand how to make a business more attractive to buyers and position it for even greater value in a future sale.

A partner for growth: If you see a clear growth opportunity in front of you, but are not prepared to take on new debt or risk at this stage in your life, an investment partner can provide the resources to fuel growth plans.

For example, one business owner in the physical therapy space grew his business from one clinic to 50 over the course of 20 years. After partnering with private equity, the business doubled to 100 locations in just two and a half years.

He got to do what he loved, integrating new clinics, while the investment team focused on acquisitions. When he sells his remaining equity in the business, his minority stake will likely sell for a much larger value than what he received in the initial sale.

Potential disadvantages:

No fast exit: If you are burned out, this is generally not the right approach for you. In a recap model, the investors are typically looking for a business leader who will stay for roughly five years. That doesn’t work if you don’t have any gas left in the tank.

This approach could work, however, if you have a strong management team. Equity can be transitioned to management, creating a new group of minority owners motivated to drive success.

Loss of control: While you will still run the day-to-day business, you will no longer be the primary owner and decision maker. Your investment partner will be involved in all significant financial and strategic decisions.

So before you partner with an investment firm, make sure you feel like your goals align with their intentions. And talk to other business owners they’ve partnered with in the past, to find out how well the relationship worked out.

Pressure to grow: If you’re being recapped late in the life of an investment fund, your investors may need to show returns in just a few years. That could lead to a situation in which you’re pressured to grow quickly.

You could find your investors are more interested in short-term returns than long-term strategic growth. Then again, if your investor is looking to sell quickly, one concentrated push with a faster exit might appeal to you.

At the end of the day, recapitalizations can be a great tool to grow your business and increase your overall value. Finding the right partner takes careful consideration and due diligence. But with the right fit, you can often accomplish more and reap greater rewards than with a traditional full sale.

For further information on recapitalization contact Al Statz at 707-781-8580.