The European Debt Advisory Group is an integral part of Close Brothers Corporate Finance and was one of the first debt advisory teams to be established in Europe. Since our inception in London in 1998 we have expanded to become a leading European business with an established presence in London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

We provide independent debt advice to a wide range of companies and private equity groups across Europe.  Our advice embraces all stages of a financing project from strategic guidance on capital structure and the assessment of alternative sources of finance, to supporting the client with experienced execution resource throughout the fundraising process.

The debt capital markets are becoming increasingly complex, with a growing range of products available from a widening array of institutions. We assist our clients in exploring the range of available financing solutions, we support them in securing the optimum terms for their preferred option and we ensure that the execution meets the client’s timetable.

The team’s 12 senior members draw on extensive practical banking experience and maintain close contact with all the major debt providers.  We have an intimate knowledge of European debt market conditions.

We advise companies on a wide range of financing structures, including:

• investment-grade syndicated debt facilities
• corporate acquisition finance
• private placements
• acquisition finance for private equity groups
• leveraged recapitalisations of private equity backed companies
• securitisation and other forms of asset-backed lending
• property finance
• stressed refinancings

Depending upon the nature of an engagement, our role may involve some or all of the following elements:

• prioritising the client’s objectives
• assessing alternative capital structures
• comparing the available sources of capital
• evaluating the potential lenders
• detailed financial modelling and credit assessment
• compilation and provision of detailed information to institutions
• planning and managing the approach to the selected capital markets and lenders
• providing experienced execution resource
• advising on the negotiation of potential lender’s proposals and detailed terms
• ensuring legal documentation reflects current market practice

If you would like to discuss your objectives in confidence, please contact one of the team's senior members, listed below: