Special situations 

A&O Shearman's special situations team works with debtors, issuers and creditors to deliver bespoke capital and liquidity solutions in circumstances where traditional sources of capital may be unavailable or a tailored solution is required.  

These can range from highly structured debt financing structures to holdco PIK and pref equity financings, off-balance sheet financings, structured joint ventures, hybrid instruments, and distressed equity investments and acquisitions.

For businesses facing challenging circumstances, these transactions can form part of a wider liability management exercise or restructuring, or provide an interim solution on the path to a holistic recapitalisation. 

A diverse client base

We act for a diverse range of clients including private equity firms and their portfolio companies, specialist distressed debt investors and private credit funds across sectors and geographies, and have a track record of delivering innovative and commercial solutions . 

In these situations, navigating through a complicated web of contractual restrictions and focused downside protection is critical. 

We bring together market-leading lawyers from our restructuring and insolvency, leveraged and asset finance, capital markets and high yield, private equity and M&A, litigation, arbitration, tax, antitrust and regulatory groups across the world to create a truly integrated and seamless offering, helping our clients to structure and invest in these complex situations.

Representative matters

• Silver Point Capital in relation to its acquisition of Caesars’ U.K. and African casino businesses. 
• An investment fund on the €1.5 billion restructuring of the Nynas Group, an oils and bitumen products manufacturer, in Sweden, Germany, Norway, Singapore and the U.K. 
• Centerbridge and certain other lenders on a $700 million financing as part of a liability management exercise of Sabre Corporation. 
• DoorDash on its convertible note investment in a range of European tech companies. 

• Zopa on the issuance of bridge financing through warrants.
• Robinhood on its investment through advanced subscription agreements issued by Ziglu. 
• FNZ on its $1.4bn equity fundraising from CPPIB and Motive Partners, valuing FNZ at over $20bn. 
• The lenders on a unitranche and SSRCF financing for Advent and Eurazeo’s bid for Hoist Group Intressenter AB.