Gordian Group has worked on reorganizations involving in excess of $100 billion in liabilities.
Companies with complex issues, and those that are distressed or financially challenged, rely on Gordian Group to manage the diverse needs of their stakeholders, negotiate with creditors and determine the best course for maximizing business and shareholder value.
Financial restructuring
In high-pressure situations, our professionals bring the analytical skills and real-world investment banking experience needed to quickly read the landscape, evaluate key issues, and generate creative solutions ranging from internal options — such as exchange offers — to capital market alternatives. Gordian Group fulfills key roles in restructurings, including stabilizing financial crises; assessing values and debt capacities; preparing for bankruptcy; developing reorganization plans; negotiating with creditors; and implementing reorganization solutions.
Board advisory services
Our team of sharp negotiators is experienced at managing potentially volatile debtor-creditor relations and the diverse needs of stakeholders. We assist Boards of Directors in identifying and analyzing the merits, risks and rewards of their available financial alternatives. Boards rely on our expertise in valuation, reorganization planning and implementation, as well as our deft negotiation skills to maximize shareholder value.
Private equity / portfolio company advisory services
We have had tremendous success working on behalf of private equity firms and their portfolio companies in maximizing recoveries in distressed and/or complex situations. We are experts in extracting value from the capital structure to benefit “old” equity and, through our experience, understand the unique needs of private equity investors. Our goals are defined by our client’s goals: while it is most common that direct “economic” goals, in particular maximizing the value of the portfolio company, are the primary goals, we recognize private equity firms often also have other parallel goals. Gordian’s lack of conflicts provides private equity firms with comfort in our advice.
Valuation and debt capacity
Clients benefit from our real-world capital market transaction experience coupled with our expertise in the litigation arena. Our team evaluates the level of debt capacity (secured and unsecured) that can be obtained and supported by a company and anticipates the amount of financial buffer needed for contingencies, market fluctuations and business changes. Gordian Group assesses our client’s liquidation, enterprise and security values and analyzes the resulting implications on shareholder values and financial options.
Regulatory services
Gordian Group has a long history in advising regulators in connection with respect to financially-troubled companies which they oversee. We have advised the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance in Ambac. We advised the Federal Communications Commission with respect to insolvencies arising from the failed “C-Block” spectrum auction process. We advised the Office of Thrift Supervision in connection with the recapitalizations of CalFed and GLENFED. We advised the State of Vermont with respect to the restructuring of the State’s electric utility industry. And, prior to forming Gordian Group, one of our partners advised the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) in connection with LTV’s first bankruptcy. In turn, our deep regulatory experience allows us to provide our other clients with the insights garnered from our regulatory practice. For example, our PBGC experience has been invaluable with steel industry assignments (the second LTV bankruptcy, Laclede Steel and Bayou Steel) and with union representation (UAL Retired Pilots’ Committee).