Distress & Recovery · 💸 Distressed Debt Buyer

Ein Betreibungssignal veröffentlicht. Die Forderungen gegenüber diesem Unternehmen könnten aufkaufbar sein.

Distressed debt portfolios rarely come to formal auction. They move in bilateral deals between creditors and buyers who were already in conversation. The window between a SHAB distress filing and a closed deal can be under two weeks — and most buyers only hear about it after the deal is done. The buyers who win are the ones who reach the bank the same morning the filing appears.

The timing advantage

Be the first to know. Be the first to call.

For distressed debt buyers, the deal happens before the process. Banks and creditors managing exposure to a distressed company are motivated sellers — but only briefly, and only to counterparties they already trust or who reach them first with a concrete proposal. Once another fund has made contact, the bilateral conversation begins and you are effectively locked out.

1
The SHAB filing is the earliest public signal
Eine Betreibungs- oder Nachlassstundungsmeldung im SHAB geht einem formellen Verkaufsprozess um Wochen voraus. In diesem Moment hat der Gläubiger noch nicht entschieden, ob er verkauft, hält oder die Betreibung weiterführt. Ihn zu erreichen, bevor diese Entscheidung gefallen ist, ist der einzige Weg, sie zu beeinflussen — und nicht gegen drei weitere Fonds in einer strukturierten Auktion anzutreten.
2
Banks prefer bilateral exits over formal process
Swiss banks managing NPL exposure have strong incentives to close quietly. A formal portfolio sale triggers regulatory scrutiny, provisioning discussions, and internal approval layers. A bilateral deal with a known counterparty — completed in under two weeks — avoids all of that. But it only happens if you're already in the room when they decide to move.
3
The liquidation event closes the window permanently
Once a company enters formal liquidation, the debt portfolio becomes subject to insolvency proceedings. The administrator takes control, enforcement timelines extend significantly, and the creditor's motivation to sell at a discount disappears. The entire acquisition opportunity exists in the narrow window between distress signal and liquidation order.
Your signals

Which SHAB events matter for Distressed Debt Buyer

Two SHAB event types directly indicate that receivables attached to a company may be available for acquisition. Each creates a different urgency and requires a different approach to the creditor conversation.

⚠️ Distress Signal
HIGH SIGNAL
Eine Nachlassstundung, ein Schuldenmoratorium oder ein gerichtlicher Nachlassvertrag signalisiert, dass sich ein Unternehmen in aktiven finanziellen Schwierigkeiten befindet, aber noch nicht in die formelle Liquidation eingetreten ist. Das ist das primäre Akquisitionsfenster. Banken und Handelsgläubiger mit Exposure wägen ihre Optionen ab — ein bilaterales Angebot eines glaubwürdigen Käufers kommt genau zum richtigen Zeitpunkt. Das Unternehmen kann noch saniert überleben, was den Charakter der Forderung vollständig verändert, wenn du zu lange wartest.
🏚️ Liquidation
HIGH SIGNAL
Eine Liquidationsanmeldung bestätigt, dass das Unternehmen nicht weitergeführt wird. Obwohl das Akquisitionsfenster hier enger ist, halten Gläubiger, die in der Distress-Phase zögerlich waren, möglicherweise noch ungesicherte Forderungen, die sie verkaufen wollen, um langwierige Insolvenzverfahren zu vermeiden. Schnelligkeit zählt: Der Liquidator wird Forderungen kurz nach seiner Ernennung klassifizieren, und diskontierte bilaterale Verkäufe werden schwieriger, sobald dieser Prozess formalisiert ist.
Real scenario
Distress signal — Vantage Holdings AG in Zurich — Day 1 vs Day 30

Eine Nachlassstundung erscheint im SHAB. Zwei Distressed-Debt-Fonds lesen sie. Einer erreicht die Bank noch am selben Morgen. Der andere meldet sich vier Wochen später.

8:04 AM
The SHAB publishes. Distress signal for Vantage Holdings AG in Zurich. Nachlassstundung granted. Two creditor banks and several trade creditors likely hold exposure.
8:15 AM
Your Founders & Movers brief lands. Distressed Debt Buyer score: 94. AI angle attached: "Nachlassstundung granted — creditor banks likely managing NPL exposure. Bilateral acquisition window open before formal process begins."
9:30 Uhr — Tag 1
You identify the distress event and immediately reach out to banks and creditors with exposure to this company. They may be willing to sell receivables at a discount now rather than wait through a long proceedings.
Day 30 — If you wait
Another distressed debt fund has already approached the bank. The portfolio was sold in a bilateral deal before it came to market.
Why the window closes

Day 1 vs Day 30 — the difference is the deal

Day 1
Day 1 — You call today
  • The creditor has not yet decided whether to sell or enforce. Your call shapes that decision rather than responding to one already made.
  • No auction has been organised. You negotiate directly, set your own price discovery terms, and avoid the markup that formal processes add.
  • You arrive with a specific filing reference and a concrete offer structure. The banker you call knows you've done your homework — and takes the meeting.
  • Ein bilateraler Abschluss in weniger als zwei Wochen ist möglich. Die Bank vermeidet eine regulatorische Eskalation; du vermeidest den Wettbewerb. Beide Seiten profitieren von Schnelligkeit.
Day 30
Day 30 — You call next month
  • Ein konkurrierender Fonds hat die Bank in Woche eins erreicht. Der bilaterale Deal ist bereits abgeschlossen. Das Portfolio ist vollständig vom Markt.
  • If the distress has progressed to formal liquidation, the administrator now controls the claims. Bilateral acquisition is no longer possible.
  • The bank has already provisioned the exposure and moved on. The motivation to sell at a discount — which existed briefly — is gone.
  • You are now learning about a deal from a tombstone announcement rather than from the filing that created the opportunity.
Reach out with reason

Not "I help companies like yours." A specific reason to call.

SHAB events give you a real, specific, verifiable reason to reach out. That changes the conversation from cold outreach to warm intelligence — you're not prospecting, you're responding to a filing that just appeared this morning.

❌ Generic cold outreach
Subject: Distressed debt acquisition — are you managing exposure?

Hi,

We acquire distressed debt and receivables portfolios for Swiss and European entities. If you have exposure you're looking to manage, I'd welcome a discussion.

Best regards
✅ SHAB-triggered with AI angle
Subject: Vantage Holdings distress signal — bank exposure?

Heute Morgen erschien im SHAB eine Krisenmeldung für Vantage Holdings. Wenn dein Institut Forderungsengagements hat, können wir schnell einen bilateralen Kauf abwickeln – keine formelle Auktion, kein langwieriger Prozess. Wir haben in ähnlichen Situationen in unter zwei Wochen Abschlüsse erzielt. Lohnt sich ein Gespräch heute?
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Other roles

See similar role presets

Founders & Movers has 27 pre-configured roles. These work similarly to Distressed Debt Buyer — same distress signals, same timing logic, same first-mover advantage in an opaque market.

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