Deloitte in Switzerland launches Debt & Rating Advisory

SMEs in Switzerland and other European countries will increasingly be facing a challenging environment to secure their (re)financing needs going forward. Large multinationals, less reliant on bank lending, are seeking to ensure a diversified and continued funding access but very often require a public rating for this. To help companies cover their funding needs and ensure financial headroom, Deloitte in Switzerland has launched a Debt & Rating Advisory practice. The team offers debt and rating advice throughout the funding life cycle of small and medium sized companies to large multinational corporates.

Deloitte’s Debt & Rating Advisory practice aims at facilitating funding access, increasing funding capacity and optimizing funding costs for companies of all sizes, as well as helping corporates manage their public ratings – all key pillars of a company’s business development and success.

The Swiss team is part of the firm’s larger Financial Advisory division and is led by John Feigl. The team draws on expertise from areas such as corporate banking, credit ratings, capital markets and investor relations and will work very closely with the firm’s global Debt Advisory practice. The global team encompasses over 140 debt professionals based in 30 countries and has advised on over 100 transactions with combined debt facilities exceeding the equivalent of USD10 billion in the last year.

Jean-François Lagassé, Managing Partner Financial Advisory, states: “The launch of our Swiss Debt & Rating Advisory practice goes hand-in-hand with the firm’s overarching strategy to further develop our market-leading position in Corporate Finance services. We believe that this new practice adds an important component to our wider offering of M&A and restructuring services for both SMEs and multinationals. With John and his growing team, I am confident that Deloitte is very well-positioned to successfully serve our clientele in optimising their funding and rating needs.”

Debt Advisory: Enabling Swiss companies better funding access

“Swiss companies, especially SMEs, traditionally rely heavily on bank funding. Mounting challenges in the banking sector will though create very likely a scarcity of this trusted funding source. We thus see Swiss corporates increasingly facing considerable refinancing and financing needs going forward,” as John Feigl, Head of Debt & Rating Advisory, explains.

“Thanks to our deep insight and excellent network to alternative lenders and funding sources, Deloitte’s Debt & Rating Advisory practice is well-positioned to help Swiss small-sized and mid-market companies find suitable traditional and non-traditional funding solutions throughout a variety of scenarios – from growth financing, financing maturing debt, acquisition financing to general corporate finance advisory.”

Rating Advisory: Ensuring independent rating advice for multinationals

Large multinational companies face differing financing challenges, as they predominantly seek to fund their needs through the capital markets. Obtaining public ratings to ensure a continued access to larger sources of financing is a key to their successful business development. Deloitte’s Debt & Rating Advisory practice helps large corporates ensure diversified funding access, obtain suitable first-time public ratings, evaluate rating transformative steps (i.e. M&A) and develop tailored rating tools. Building on its strong relationships with rating agencies and the team’s vast experience and expertise, Deloitte offers independent and comprehensive rating advice.

The true differentiator to other firms that offer debt & rating advisory services – primarily large banks – is Deloitte’s independence. Unlike banks, Deloitte does not offer any product-related services or direct funding, and can thus be regarded as a truly independent and trusted advisor whose objectives are fully aligned with those of their clients.

John Feigl adds: “By leveraging our debt advisory services through our rating advice, we are able to maximise the return for a wider range of our clients. This unique combination enables us to create far more value for our clients far beyond common debt advice.”

For more information about Deloitte’s Debt & Rating Advisory, please visit our website.

About Deloitte in Switzerland

Deloitte is a leading accounting and consulting company in Switzerland and provides industry-specific services in the areas of audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory. With more than 1,400 employees at six locations in Basel, Berne, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano and Zurich (headquarters), Deloitte serves companies and institutions of all legal forms and sizes in all industry sectors. Deloitte AG is a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP, the UK member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL). DTTL member firms comprise of over 225,000 employees in more than 150 countries.