Solvency Opinions

Our solvency opinions provide a robust analysis of a target company’s balance sheet strength, debt repayment capacity, and cash flow reliability.

When preparing for a corporate transaction, trust Eton’s deep expertise in transaction valuations and advisory services to bring thoroughness and confidence to your due diligence.

The team

Chris Walton

Global Director Valuations & Transaction Opinions at Eton

Our Solvency Opinion Services

Eton Venture Services provides independent solvency opinions to boards of directors at private and public companies, attorneys, hedge funds, pension and private equity funds, family offices, and lenders.

Our approach to solvency opinions is robust and objective. We’ll work closely with your team, providing clear communication and deep care of the process. Eton will always defend the opinion in the case of future litigation.

Representative Situations

  • Debt refinancing and restructuring
  • Corporate spin-offs
  • Special dividends
  • Leveraged transactions
  • Stock redemptions
  • And more

Related Services

Fairness Opinions

Unbiased, third-party analysis of a transaction to determine whether the deal terms are fair to the shareholders of the companies involved.

Transaction Opinions

Eton offers robust, independent transaction opinions that bring fairness, transparency, and risk mitigation to your full deal process.

Transaction Advisory

Our advisory services support you at every step of the M&A process, whether you’re buy-side or sell-side.

Business Valuations

Our opinion helps companies avoid subjecting the firm to undue financial distress and potentially fraudulent transfers.

Transaction Experience

At Eton, we serve boards of directors at private and public companies, attorneys, hedge funds, pension and private equity funds, family offices, and lenders.

With our specialism in valuations and broad range of transaction experience, we can bring a confident objectivity to your decision-making process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a solvency opinion?

A solvency opinion is a formal evaluation conducted by independent financial experts to assess a company’s capacity to meet its financial obligations after a significant transaction, such as a merger, acquisition, or leveraged buyout.

The analysis reviews assets versus liabilities (the balance sheet test), where the subject company will be able to pay its debts when they mature, and the health of the companies cash flows.

Solvency opinions are essential in providing stakeholders with confidence in the financial soundness of the proposed transaction. They serve as a vital risk management tool, supporting corporate governance and informing decision-making processes.

When considering significant financial transactions, a solvency opinion becomes a critical element of due diligence. It is particularly relevant in leveraged buyouts, substantial dividend recapitalizations, major share repurchases, and complex mergers or spin-offs that materially affect the company’s capital structure.

Obtaining a third-party solvency opinion is a cost-effective way for a board of directors to fulfill its fiduciary duty during transactions. 

This opinion helps mitigate risks, including potential personal liability for directors, by providing critical information on the company’s ability to remain solvent and pay dividends, thereby protecting against claims of fraudulent conveyance and breaches of fiduciary duty.

The solvency opinion process entails a rigorous financial analysis over several weeks (or shorter, but that comes at a higher fee).

Key stages include:

  • Engagement and preliminary review
  • Comprehensive data collection and due diligence
  • In-depth financial analysis, including balance sheet evaluation, cash flow projections, and debt capacity assessment
  • Execution of solvency tests: balance sheet, cash flow, and capital adequacy
  • Industry and market analysis
  • Internal review of draft opinion
  • Issuance of final opinion

How long the process takes varies with transaction complexity.

It requires close collaboration between the advisory firm, company management, and legal counsel to ensure a thorough assessment of post-transaction financial viability.

Talk to Us

Schedule a Meeting