Cloud 9fin

We are back to France — the current epicentre of European credit stress — for our second episode of Distressed Diaries.

Over the last few months, French lab company Cerba’s debt has taken a beating as fears mount over its unsustainable €3.8bn capital. Most recently, 9fin reported that creditors have started to organise and appointed legal advisors in the lead up to possible debt negotiations.

There’s no lack of drama in this episode. First, the company’s liquidity has been hit by the French government’s decision to cut tariffs on lab tests in September last year. Then CEO Emmanuel Ligner unexpectedly stepped down in March with his replacement Julien Samson only joining in early June.

The weak performance has meant climbing net leverage (to 9.3x in Q1 25 from 8.4x in FY 24), followed by recent S&P’s downgrade to CCC+ and listing of its debt from CLOs.

In this episode, our host, senior distressed reporter Bianca Boorer, sits down with 9fin’s senior distressed credit analyst Denitsa Stoyanova and senior legal consultant Rebecca Davies to talk about Cerba’s financial situation, creditors’ reactions, how the company plans to address this, what is possible under the debt docs, and more.

9fin’s analysis of Cerba’s capital structure is here and a deep dive over LME and liquidity options is here.

Creators and Guests

Producer
Chase Collum
Head of Podcasts for 9fin Limited

What is Cloud 9fin?

Leveraged finance, distressed debt, and private credit drive today’s markets. Cloud 9fin delivers expert insights on high-yield bonds, syndicated loans, direct lending, and debt restructuring. Join top analysts and investors as we explore credit markets, special situations, and private debt strategies shaping the industry.

From credit risk assessment to institutional credit trends, each episode provides actionable intelligence for fund managers, institutional investors, and financial professionals. Whether you’re tracking high-yield issuances, analyzing corporate debt, or uncovering distressed debt opportunities, we’ve got you covered.

Through its AI-powered data and analytics platform, 9fin provides everything you need to get your head around credit or win a mandate — all in one place. We help subscribers win business, outperform their peers and save time. Stay ahead in leveraged finance market trends—subscribe now for expert discussions on the forces moving global credit.