Butt Miller does not act as an insolvency practitioner or administrator. However, where relevant, we work closely with trusted insolvency practitioners, solicitors, lenders, investors and other key stakeholders to ensure the accounting and tax aspects of the restructuring process are properly considered.
Corporate restructuring advice from Butt Miller
There are many reasons for business restructuring, but each requires a disciplined approach. It needs precision, planning and sound commercial judgement, which is why many directors seek guidance from senior financial advisers such as Butt Miller.
Our corporate restructuring advice helps business owners review and reorganise their company or group structure to support their commercial goals. This may include forming a group, moving assets into a holding company, reviewing shareholder arrangements, improving the balance sheet, or preparing for future succession, investment, acquisition or sale.
We will take time to understand your company, its structure and long-term goals before advising on the right course of action. Our focus is on giving directors clear advice, practical guidance and well-planned solutions that help protect assets, manage risk and support the future of the business.
When might you consider corporate restructuring?
Common reasons for corporate restructuring include:
- The business has grown, and the current structure is unworkable
- To separate valuable assets from day-to-day trading risk
- To prepare for investment, refinancing, acquisition, merger or sale
- Ownership is changing, or you are planning for succession
- The company’s balance sheet needs reviewing or strengthening
- To improve future dividend planning
- To optimise how the business holds property, cash, investments or intellectual property
- Debt facilities, funding arrangements or investor requirements have changed
- The business has expanded, diversified or become more complex
- Consumer needs have changed, for example, more business is being done online
- The business is in financial difficulty and needs specialist insolvency advice (in this scenario, Butt Miller can work alongside insolvency practitioners)
Restructuring should always be driven by a clear commercial purpose. Our team can help you assess the advantages, costs, risks and tax implications before any plans are implemented.
What does corporate restructuring involve?
Corporate restructuring is a strategic process that reshapes how a business is organised to support its future. This may include changes to ownership, assets, shares, debt facilities, management structures or operational processes, depending on what the business needs to achieve.
The right approach depends on your objectives, the business’s current financial position, and the tax, legal, and commercial implications.
Restructuring can include a wide range of actions, such as:
- Creating a group or holding company structure
- Share-for-share exchanges (more on this below)
- Moving shares, cash, property or investments between companies
- Reviewing distributable reserves before paying dividends
- Considering a family investment company
- Refinancing or changing debt facilities
- Simplifying the corporate structure
- Preparing the business for investment, acquisition, merger or sale
Whatever the reason, restructuring plans should be considered carefully. They require strategic planning, clear advice and proactive change management, so decisions are made with the full commercial, legal and tax picture in mind.
Financial modelling is often a key part of this process. By modelling different scenarios, structures and outcomes, you can gain clarity on the potential impact on cash flow, tax position, distributable reserves and long-term value before making any changes.
As your adviser, Butt Miller can help keep directors, solicitors, lenders, investors and other stakeholders aligned, reducing uncertainty and supporting a smoother restructuring process.
Creating a group structure can help separate trading activity from valuable assets, investments or property. It may also make the business easier to manage, fund, sell or pass on in future.
This often involves creating a new holding company or using a share-for-share arrangement, where shareholders exchange shares in one company for shares in another.
This approach requires careful consideration of the tax implications, shareholder positions, HMRC clearance, legal documents and wider restructuring plans before the transaction goes ahead.
Improving the financial position of the company
Some organisations restructure to improve the balance sheet when it no longer reflects the business’s strength or potential.
For example, where a company has negative retained profits but a significant share premium account, restructuring may help improve reserves and support future dividend planning.
We can review reserves, share capital, dividend capacity and the wider financial position, helping directors understand the company’s finances before making decisions about growth, shareholder returns or future planning.
Distributable reserves and tax-efficient planning
Before paying dividends, we can advise on whether reserves are distributable and how restructuring may support future shareholder distributions.
This helps directors act with confidence, avoid unnecessary risk and make decisions that are commercially sound and tax efficient.
Family investment companies and long-term planning
A family investment company is a private company set up to hold and manage family assets for long-term wealth planning and succession.
It may be relevant if profits or surplus cash are accumulating in a trading company and the owners want to move funds into a separate structure for investment, asset protection, or family planning.
We can help you consider whether this type of arrangement is appropriate, how it could be funded, and how it affects asset protection and succession planning.
Why choose Butt Miller for corporate restructuring advice?
| Support | What this means |
|---|---|
| Director-level advice | Access to experienced chartered accountants who understand complex restructuring challenges. |
| A clear route forward | Planning that helps you navigate complex options with clear steps, timings and responsibilities. |
| Early risk mapping | Liabilities, tax issues and compliance obligations flagged at the start. |
| Close collaboration | We work with solicitors, lenders and investors to keep the process aligned. |
| Commercial judgement | Straightforward advice on whether the restructure supports the business’s future. |
Talk to us about corporate restructuring
Whether you are forming a group, moving assets into a holding company, reviewing reserves, planning a share-for-share exchange, or preparing for succession, investment or sale, Butt Miller can help. By engaging us early, we can help map out liabilities, compliance obligations and potential tax consequences before decisions are finalised.
Contact us today about your corporate restructuring plans and the practical steps needed to move forward with confidence.
Frequently asked questions about corporate restructuring:
What is corporate restructuring advice?
Corporate restructuring advice helps business owners reorganise their company or group structure to support growth, asset protection, tax planning, succession, sale or investment. It can involve changes to ownership, shares, assets, reserves, group arrangements or the wider company structure.
Is corporate restructuring the same as insolvency?
While some businesses are forced to consider restructuring in difficult times, it’s not always linked to insolvency. Many successful, solvent companies restructure to improve efficiency, protect assets or prepare for growth. Butt Miller does not act as an insolvency firm, but we can work alongside insolvency practitioners where their specialist input is needed.
Can restructuring help protect business assets?
In some circumstances, restructuring can help separate valuable assets, such as property, cash, investments or intellectual property, from trading risk in the operating company. The tax, legal and commercial implications should always be reviewed first.
Can you help implement a restructuring plan?
We can advise on the accounting and tax aspects, model options, review risks and work with your legal advisers to support implementation. The process depends on the structure, objectives and stakeholders involved.
What support can you offer post-restructure?
Ongoing financial monitoring can help directors assess whether the restructure is delivering the intended commercial outcome. This may include reviewing cash flow, reserves, tax position, reporting requirements and wider financial performance, so any issues can be identified and addressed.
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