We advise on all aspects of banking and finance, with our main focus being advising corporate borrowers. The debt and lending markets have significantly changed over the last few years and there is now a great deal of competition in the supply of debt funding. We can help you navigate the various funding options and work with you to negotiate the best commercial terms for your debt finance.
Highly experienced in acting for both funders and borrowers, our lawyers will work with you right from the initial stages, advising on the right loan facilities for you and your business and helping to negotiate outline terms and conditions with your chosen funder. We will take a sensible, commercial approach to all negotiations, focusing on the key commercial points which are important to your business.
As well as negotiating new debt documentation, we can also assist on a day to day basis in your dealings with your lenders – for example, monitoring ongoing compliance with financial covenants, advising on what to do if you suspect you may breach, or have breached, your debt agreements and liaising with your lender on any consents or amendments that may be required.
Nearly every business or share acquisition will need debt finance, and we understand its interaction with the needs of any equity provider. The debt funder will need to be comfortable with the structure of the transaction and the underlying business model and we will work with you and your financial advisers to achieve the best deal. We understand lenders’ tolerances and with our experience we will ensure that the deal happens.
Property funding can take many forms, from the building of a multi-plot residential development, to the construction of a hotel. We will help you to negotiate the most favourable funding package. We also have extensive experience of joint ventures which are common in property finance transactions.
Switching lenders may seem a daunting prospect but we will help you to secure the best possible funding package going forward. Each lender has different requirements and the security package offered and facility documentation entered into requires to be tailored each time (together with the correct release of security previously entered into) and we will make that happen.
This can take many forms depending on the needs of the business, from a simple overdraft facility to a multicurrency revolving credit facility or term loan. Whatever your requirement is we will support your decision making process, by reviewing outline terms and conditions and negotiating the banking covenants and documentation.
Factoring or invoice financing has become increasingly popular in recent years and can provide an effective debt package which can be used for working capital purposes or as part of an acquisition funding package. We have extensive experience in negotiating such arrangements and knowledge of the different lenders’ requirements.
Typically the reorganisation of a corporate group’s outstanding obligations is achieved by easing the repayment terms or by reducing the interest rate payable (which may be linked to additional security being provided). Banking covenants may require to be adjusted and debt swapped for equity. We will work with you and your financial advisers to ensure that the most effective and tax efficient solution is achieved.
It was important to us that our legal advisers were aligned to our business values, and we were impressed by the approach Vialex took to support our business by offering a ‘virtual’ in-house legal team who look after our day-to-day legal needs.
We use the Vialex Legal Counsel Service as our day-to-day support for all our contracts and legal issues. They act as an extension of our own team and work with us to help us achieve our commercial goals. The subscription means we can get the advice we need when we need it for a fixed cost.
Company Registration Number: SC360307. Registered address: Vialex Limited / Floor 3, 1 – 4 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 8HA
