The first quarter of 2025 saw 11 publicly announced deals, with 9 disclosing transferred reserves totalling nearly US$1bn*. The UK and Ireland saw 9 deals, highlighting the sustained momentum of legacy activity in the region following a strong 2024.
Despite improvements in consumer confidence, stability and growth remain off course as inflation persists and borrowing continues to increase. Proactively responding to these challenges is key. From cash flow forecasting to broadening refinancing options, a restructuring mindset can help your business identify vulnerabilities and plan for challenges ahead.
Our specialists bring market insight and technical expertise to help strengthen your business, gain a competitive edge and innovate in the face of disruption.
Six areas of focus to help your business adapt and strengthen
With higher interest rates, capital is more expensive and with an increasing number of finance providers, being able to navigate the market is increasingly important. Whether you're looking to take advantage of opportunities with new lenders or need help managing your existing financial creditors, our experts can support you through any refinancing or restructuring event.
Our services - how our business restructuring specialists can help you
Increasingly you can be faced with a wide range of challenges not only financial, but also operational, potentially strategic, or management of complex liabilities. Given the breadth and depth of our practice, we are best-placed to address all of the challenges you are facing.
We understand how important it is to have an advisor you can rely on in times of challenge or distress and an advisor who will work with you. We really care about our clients, and the outcomes that you get. We are exactly where you need us to be, shoulder to shoulder, delivering solutions at pace to protect and create value.
Who we are
With over 600 staff in 15 regions and every major city across the UK, we are the UK's largest business restructuring practice. We take great pride in the diversity of our people’s skills, experience, backgrounds and perspectives, ranging across highly specific areas such as company insolvency, debt financing, and corporate restructuring. We explore every avenue to get you the very best outcome to suit your needs.
We are driven by a combination of the responsibility and privilege of delivering the right restructuring solution for you, coupled with the ability to make a difference. We understand the importance of treating you, your stakeholders and everyone involved with dignity, empathy and compassion in the most challenging times.
- 58 results
Following three consecutive quarters of decline, consumer sentiment has risen this quarter and is now better than the long-run average. While this is encouraging for operators in the retail and leisure sectors, improvements haven’t been seen across all demographics. Only one age group is feeling more optimistic than this time last year, as all other demographics face growing concerns around either inflation or job security. We consider why this gap is widening and what this might mean for the sector in the coming months.
Another quarter of falling consumer sentiment suggests things could be challenging for retail and leisure operators in the near term. Following on from the vibecession we saw late last year, people are now starting to cut back on spending and all indicators are down compared with the previous quarter. Yet, despite the perceived gloom, things are actually around the long-run average. However, with concerns over the state of the UK economy, the job market and household finances, we look at what this might mean for retail and leisure operators in the next few months.
The first quarter of 2025 saw 11 publicly announced deals, with 9 disclosing transferred reserves totalling nearly US$1bn*. The UK and Ireland saw 9 deals, highlighting the sustained momentum of legacy activity in the region following a strong 2024.
The year 2024 was marked by unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the global insolvency landscape, as the world continued to grapple with the high interest rates, persistent inflation, the acceleration of digital transformation, the softening of consumer confidence and its impact on retailers and those who sell big ticket items, and the emergence of new geopolitical and regulatory risks.
A long-term view of openings and closures: a move towards stability?
As we enter the new year, many company directors are facing a daunting reality: the business landscape is more volatile and unpredictable than ever, and the risk of insolvency is looming large. How can you navigate this challenging environment and fulfil your duties as a director without risking legal ramifications?
The final quarter of 2024 saw 9 publicly announced deals, transferring $2.4bn in disclosed liabilities – capping off a significantly more active second half of the year for the insurance legacy market.
Contact us
Restructuring and Insolvency Partner, UK Head of Insolvency, PwC United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)7974 332659
Partner - Head of Contentious Insolvency & Asset Recovery, PwC United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)7483 365547
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