About Cardano Advisory

Multi-award-winning advisory firm

Restructuring a business with a DB pension scheme is complex. It requires specialist expertise and up-to-date knowledge of the changing regulatory landscapes. 

Cardano Advisory has an experienced team of experts who work with clients to deliver creative solutions which optimise outcomes for all stakeholders.

By their very nature restructuring situations can be difficult landscapes to navigate. The position becomes even more complex where there is a UK DB Pension Scheme, which will almost invariably be impacted by a restructuring, whatever form it may take.

Trustees, corporates and other key stakeholders will often have to consider and assess options to manage and/or compromise pension scheme liabilities via a range of restructuring solutions.

At the very least, a restructuring or reorganisation will impact on the employer’s covenant and the stakeholders will need expert support to understand the extent of such an impact and how it might be mitigated.

In addition, the parties involved will need to understand the complex regulatory landscape including ‘moral hazard’ risks and the provisions of the new Pension Schemes Act (PSA21) which gives the new powers of The Pensions Regulator (TPR) to intervene and bring civil and criminal actions against a wide range of parties where a restructuring is highly adverse for the scheme.

We have a deep understanding of the Regulator’s position in these situations and have worked closely with both the TPR and the Pension Protection Fund on numerous projects including acting as their expert.

We have experienced expert advisors who can guide stakeholders through these difficult situations, including:

• Corporate viability/solvency assessments
• Assisting boards and guiding them through the restructuring process
• Leading or providing expert advice and assistance in restructuring negotiations
• Undertaking or reviewing insolvency contingency planning
• Entity priority model analysis
• Assessments of the impact of reorganisations and restructurings on the pension scheme and its employer covenant, including potential mitigation that may be required to repair any detriment
• ‘Moral Hazard’ risk reviews, to consider the likelihood and potential impart of TPR intervention
• Specialist PSA21 related advice to understand potential detriment to the scheme and consider appropriate and reasonable mitigation where relevant
• Supporting stakeholders in assessing options to compromise scheme benefits and separate the pension scheme from the sponsor

In May 2020 we were selected to be part of the Pension Protection Fund’s new Trustee and Support Services panel. 

We stand out from our competitors as we are pensions focused, independent and bring a market leading team with diverse experience to provide a more holistic view of any situation.

Please get in touch with ALEX HUTTON-MILLS, or RICHARD FARR (IFT Fellow) to discuss how we can help.