Our Strengths
Deep restructuring and turnaround skills
Each of our Managing Directors have been involved in Special Situation investing and advice for over 20 years. We have worked out and restructured both large and small companies in times of recession and buoyant economic times. We understand that:
- it is critical to act quickly to address the causes of underperformance and therefore maximise going concern value;
- support from an engaged and incentivised management team is fundamental;
- clear communication with all stakeholders will ensure they are not second guessing the strategy and therefore more likely to be supportive; and
- there is a requirement for patient capital focussed on longer term multiples rather than short term yield.
Unique Deal Flow
Helmsman have relationships with all the major professional firms/advisory houses, from solicitors, accountants, brokers and investment bankers, who specialize in the workout and restructure of underperforming companies.
We are also well known to the banks who will seek our involvement in credits which are in “workout” within the banks. These workout bankers often see the merit in introducing to their clients a Special Situation investor given the difficulty in attracting other investors when their clients are underperforming.
Intensive involvement with investees
Special Situation investing requires a very high level of involvement by the investor as the company is restructured and repositioned for profitable trading. It is critical that management teams have a high level of access to the Manager as decisions are made to change the operating parameters of the business. This close involvement with the investee and the potential that the industry will be in some form of restructure requires the Manager to also have a very good understanding of the industry in which the company operates and what the future structure of that industry might look like.
Track Record of Successful Investing
Helmsman has a successful record of investing with top quartile returns for our investors.
Not reliant on High Gearing
Unlike many other private equity funds, our model for investing is not reliant upon a high level of gearing at initial investment. Our experience to date is that as the operations improve, growth returns and roll-up or other acquisition opportunities emerge. At that point, with the investee management, we will identify and want to introduce the correct level of gearing. It is often at this point in the restructure of the company that the level of gearing can increase to fund the organic growth or acquisition opportunities as they emerge.
