KSA Group is a progressive, dynamic turnaround and insolvency specialist firm.

Our speciality is business rescue and to that end we are the authors of companyrescue.co.uk which is the largest online resource for distressed company directors, creditors and employees in the world. Over 1,000 pages of free information, guides and toolkits are viewed by more than 1,000 companies every day.

For nearly 20 years we have been assisting distressed SMEs cope with crisis, we have seen most things and are not surprised at the emotional pressure insolvency can inflict. But many companies die because the directors FAIL TO ACT soon enough.

Our expert team have extensive knowledge of all the possible options a distressed business has to consider. As such we have a reputation for delivering innovative solutions that enable businesses to realise maximum value for the benefit of all stakeholders.

We work at board level with directors, investors, lenders, shareholders and professional bodies and institutions to achieve best possible outcomes, often without formal insolvency procedures being used.

If we start our work early enough, it is often possible to restructure and reorganise debts by consensual negotiation coupled with an injection of alternative forms of finance or the sale of assets. If this “diet and exercise” approach doesn’t work then we, as licensed insolvency practitioners, can move to the surgery stage of CVA, administration or the closure of the company through liquidation.

After any initial meeting we will produce a full written report setting out the options and our recommended strategy. There is no fee involved until a formal engagement letter is approved by directors.

If you are a worried director or a professional advisor to a distressed company call us on 0800 9700539 or 07833240747

Corporate Recovery

Corporate recovery is what we are passionate about with a "let's try and rescue first" attitude. KSA Group has restructured hundreds of companies over the years, for the benefit of the business and for creditors.

We understand that financial difficulties can bring a great deal of emotional turmoil for those involved and so we always act with sympathy and understanding. We can use innovative techniques to ensure the business has the best chance of continuing to trade and go on to become successful. Very few directors and managers set out to manage insolvent businesses. Whilst this is an obvious statement, it is important to stress. Therefore, few small to medium sized (SME) companies have all of the necessary skills in all levels of the management of the business to cope with the huge burden that insolvency can place on a company.

Many businesses need help in specific areas of operation – financial reporting, sales and marketing, HR, production, general management, strategic planning and corporate governance. With our growing team of turnaround specialist covering the UK we can deliver hands on support within a day or instruction. It is KSA's strongly held view that we must help the management focus on the issues that may have caused the insolvency issues, identify and agree weaknesses in the business / management and help set strategies for change that are essential for the survival of the business.

It is also apparent in most distressed companies that we visit, that the management expend a large proportion of their available time on fighting fires. Re-focus on their specific management roles and delivery of performance targets are rarely achieved, when poor cashflow is constantly the main issue in each day. Bring in an experienced KSA turnaround expert early enough and insolvency may be avoided.

Plan "A" or Plan "B"?
In our view too many insolvency practitioners leap to the pre pack or administration conclusion, without much thought to the avoidance of formal insolvency procedures. Increasingly we are seeing Plan "A" as a powerful rescue tool. By assessing the financial position, the business issues, setting out a turnaround plan and then comparing that to the CVA or administration options, we can persuade banks, trade creditors and HMRC that 100p in £1 over say 6-18 months is preferable to a formal (where the Court is involved) process that will inevitably compromise their debts.

If creditors reject this informal time to pay deal then we can very quickly move to Plan "B" which is a company voluntary arrangement. For Plan "A" we have done most of the preparatory assessments and built a statement of affairs, sensitised financial forecasts, and set out a recovery programme.

Keith Steven talks about turnaround and CVAs with the Telegraph. Read the article "A solution to insolvency"

Capital & Finance Services

Almost all businesses need to go through periodic refinancing exercises, whether replacing bank facilities, renewing overdrafts, obtaining bank term loans, EFG loan guarantees scheme loans, factoring/ invoice discounting or capital expenditure requirements. Raising working capital is an important plank in any restructuring plan.

Where a company has encountered a significant downturn event or is under pressure, the relationships with funders can be strained or breaking down. As the current market for business changes and evolves almost daily, the ability to source new working capital facilities is quite limited in 2013. KSA Group has helped companies raise working capital for many years and have strong connections with all types of financiers and private investors who are not afraid of CVAs or insolvency. Cheswick Capital can provide turnaround finance if required

Our contacts have the ability to move quickly where a company's relationship with its funders have been strained or broken down. We can arrange a replacement funder in 2-3 days if required. This exits a bank from a company it no longer wishes to work with and provides relief for distressed directors. We work with 5 private equity funds who can lift out existing banks with lends of up to £100m. Coupled with what we call Plan "A" or informal debt restructure with HMRC and major creditors this can be a powerful way to AVOID insolvency techniques such as pre-pack administration.

Insolvency Services

When the pressures are too great for a business then it is increasingly likely that a terminal insolvency mechanism such as a creditors voluntary liquidation is necessary. This can help to reduce personal liability of the company directors if they have acted reasonably. KSA Group can advise secured lenders how to protect their position by the use of administrators.

Lender Services

KSA Group can help lenders by assessing the viability of a business to which they want to lend. Using advanced financial forecasting techniques we can assess when a business is suffering difficulties and ensure that the lender has adequate support to recover any monies owed. The forecasting unit is headed up by our financial director Andrew Hunter.

KSA Group can carry out viability reviews and advise on more complex restructuring issues, even fraud investigations. We have established contacts with professionals in the UK finance market and are in touch with all the latest developments in this rapidly changing industry.

KSA Group News

The Big Debate: The CVA versus the Pre Pack. Which is better and when. Join in! Guests of KSA Group go free. 8th May 2013 London

New event on the 18th April 2013 in Bromley to show how businesses can survive and prosper in the economic climate. See this page for details

New guide for employees affected by insolvency is launched on our new Facebook Page

KSA Group are sponsoring the next TMA seminar in Nottingham in 2013 called Advising the advisors. To attend the seminar on the 19th March in Nottingham please visit the event page. Remember the event is free to guests of KSA Group and CPD points are available.

KSA Group partner with the Russam Business Network that brings together entrepreneurs and interim managers.

KSA Group featured in the Telegraph talking about business turnaround and CVAs. Read the article here.

KSA Group saves 1760 jobs by rescuing companies using CVAs in last 18 months.

CVAs in action -Seminar in Birmingham hosted by Gateley LLP and sponsored by KSA Group was a great success. Read the review and watch the video here

Managing cash and going for growth. A Seminar hosted by HSBC and Sponsored by KSA Group and Advantage Business Partnerships. To read the review here

KSA Group rescues £30m T/o logistics firm with a CVA. Read the case study