Coventry business recovery specialists, Cranfield, are offering added support aimed at directors of all size companies to help them minimise their personal financial risks when investing in their own companies.

With the economic climate still in turmoil and many companies facing difficult times, it often falls to directors to prop up their business finances. If their companies then experience financial trouble, directors who have risked their personal assets become vulnerable and face losing their investments, often coming off worse than other shareholders or creditors.

One way of protecting personal investment in a business is through a Director’s Debenture. Should a company then find itself in trouble a debenture will give the director a higher priority if the company is wound up.

Tony Mitchell, Cranfield’s managing director, has seen the effect a business failure can have on company owners and directors. He said: “Business owners who are not protected risk losing their homes and other personal assets, which affects them for many years. Seeing your company fail is one thing, but to also lose your personal assets too as a result of this is a doubly devastating blow.

“We urge directors across the region to consider the worse case scenario, even if their business is currently very solid. Putting a Director’s Debenture in place is a straightforward process and the earlier directors think about this the better.

One such company director who wished he had taken this advice is being forced to sell his home as a result of the current recession after having to place his company into Administration. He said “It was only after I had consulted Cranfield that I learnt about a Director’s Debenture. Had I known about this at the time I remortgaged my house and invested the money in the company I wouldn’t now have to be selling my house to repay the money I borrowed.”

Cranfield works closely with its clients to help them avoid business failures through its business health checks and its business recovery plans. However, when things are beyond recovery, Cranfield can also help clients to choose the best options for closure and winding up.

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