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What is debt restructuring?
A process used by companies, individuals, and even countries to avoid the risk of defaulting on their existing debts, by negotiating for lower interest rates is called debt restructuring.
A less expensive alternative to bankruptcy is provided by debt restructuring when a debtor is in financial difficulty, and it is a win-win situation working to benefit both the borrower and lender.
The Process of Debt Restructuring
When some companies are facing the prospect of bankruptcy they look for ways to restructure their debt.
In the debt restructuring process, the lenders need to be in agreement to reduce the interest rates on loans or lengthen the dates when the company’s liabilities are due to be paid, or it involves getting both.
With a debt restructuring the organization’s chances of paying back its obligations and staying in business improves. If the company is forced into bankruptcy or liquidation, then the creditors would receive even less.
Debt restructuring can work to the advantage of both borrower’s and lender’s sides the reason for this is the business avoids bankruptcy and the lenders also obtain more than they would have through a bankruptcy proceeding.
This process is almost the same for individuals and for nations, just that they are on different scales.
Types of Debt Restructuring
1 - Debt Restructuring for Companies
For restructuring, their debts businesses have quite a number of options at their disposal.
- Covenant waiver and reset.
- Debt rescheduling.
- New debt injection.
- Refinancing with new lenders.
- The sale or break up of non-core assets.
- New equity injection or recapitalization.
- Debt for equity swap, and.
- Transfer to a Newco.
One such option is when creditors agree to cancel a portion, or all, of a company’s outstanding debts in exchange for equity in the business then it is a debt for equity swap.
When the outstanding debt and the company’s assets are significant and forcing the business to close its operations, would be ineffective then the option of this swap is worthwhile.
A company seeking to debt restructure would want to renegotiate with its bondholders to get a portion of the outstanding interest payments to be written off or not to repay a portion of the balance.
A callable bond is issued by a company to protect itself from a situation in which it can’t make its interest payments.
The issuer in times of decreasing interest rates can redeem a bond with a callable feature.
Because the existing debt can be replaced with new debt at a lower interest rate the callable bond feature allows the issuer to restructure debt in the future.
2 - Debt Restructuring for Countries
Throughout history, there have been cases where countries have faced default on their sovereign debt. Nowadays some countries choose to restructure their debt with bondholders.
Meaning moving the debt from the private sector to public sector institutions to be in an improved situation to handle the blow of a country’s default.
Sovereign bondholders may also have to agree to accept less money by agreeing to reduce the percentage of what they are owed, maybe 25% of their bonds’ full value.
By giving the government issuer more time to secure the funds it needs to repay its bondholders the maturity dates on bonds can also be extended.
Even when restructuring efforts cross borders this type of debt restructuring doesn’t have much international oversight.
3 - Debt Restructuring for Individuals
Individuals having financial difficulties can try to renegotiate with their creditors and the tax authorities.
For instance, an individual who is unable to continue making payments on a $200,000 mortgage might reach an agreement with the lending institution to reduce the mortgage to 75%, or $150,000 (75% x $200,000 = $150,000). In return, when the house is sold by the mortgagor the lender might receive 40% of the sale proceeds.
Individuals can seek help from a reputable debt relief company or try to negotiate on their own. This is an area that’s filled with scammers, so one should make sure they are taking a careful decision.
Conclusion
Companies, individuals, and even countries can take advantage of debt restructuring.
With the debt restructuring process, the interest rates on loans can be reduced or the due dates for paying them back can be extended.
A debt restructuring could include a debt-for-equity switch, where creditors agree to call off a portion or all of the outstanding debt in replace for equity in the business.
A nation might move the debt to public sector institutions from the private sector if it is seeking to restructure its debts.
If you’re having trouble affording your payments then debt restructuring can be a good idea. It could depend, on your overall financial situation and the types of debt restructuring that the lender offers.
