AlixPartners is a financial advisory and global consulting firm best known for its work in the turnaround space. Jay Alix founded what became AlixPartners LLP in 1981. The firm has advised on some of the largest Chapter 11 reorganizations including General Motors Co., Kmart, and Enron Corp. The firm has since moved into a more traditional consulting space, and grown to a staff of over 1000. AlixPartners is headquartered in New York, and has offices in more than 20 cities around the world. They were also involved in the Bernie Madoff scandal, identifying 13,000 investors affected by the scandal for the prosecuting team.
In 2006, private equity firm Hellman & Friedman invested in AlixPartners. In 2012, CVC Capital Partners acquired AlixPartners from Hellman & Friedman. In 2016, AlixPartners was valued at $2.5 billion.
Founding
AlixPartners was founded in 1981 as Jay Alix & Associates PC in Southfield, Michigan, by Jay Alix, a Detroit-area Certified Public Accountant (CPA). According to BusinessWeek, the "firm pioneered consulting to companies in or near bankruptcy". It first found public recognition in 1984, when working with the bankrupt automotive company DeLorean Motor Co, finding an additional $100 million for the company's creditors.
Business structure
AlixPartners' work includes enterprise improvement consulting, financial advisory services, information management services, and executing turnarounds of distressed and healthy companies. AlixPartners has been involved in several high-profile turnaround and bankruptcy assignments including GM's Saab division, Kodak, Barney's New York, and JC Penney.
In 2006, private equity firm Hellman & Friedman invested in AlixPartners. In 2012, CVC Capital Partners acquired AlixPartners from Hellman & Friedman.
In December 2014 the firm purchased Evidence Exchange, a litigation support company.
In February 2015, AlixPartners purchased Zolfo Cooper's UK & European operations for $100 million. In November 2018, the firm completed the acquisition of independent financial advisory and interim management firm Zolfo Cooper, thereby increasing the turnaround and restructuring group to nearly 350 employees worldwide.
In January 2016, AlixPartners UK managing director and former Zolfo Cooper Europe CEO Simon Freakley succeeded Fred Crawford as the company's CEO. That year, CVC Capital Partners agreed to sell its stake in AlixPartners to company founder Jay Alix as well as Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Public Sector Pension Investment Board, and Investcorp.
AlixPartners acquired Matrix Economics and Freeh Group (led by former FBI director Louis Freeh) for their investigations and compliance practices in 2020. In November 2021, AlixPartners announced a partnership with Palantir for shared clients to utilize Palantir's Foundry analytics platform. In February 2023, AlixPartners announced the acquisition of London-based advisory firm THM Partners.
Consulting and M&A work
The company has built a mergers and acquisitions practice, working within large merger integration situations. Industries in which AlixPartners consults includes maritime and transportation, private equity, automotive, energy and process or oil and gas industries, and aerospace. In March 2014, AlixPartners advised on the merger between JoS. A. Bank Clothiers and Men's Warehouse, two male clothing retailers. AlixPartners has consulted for companies including Airbus, Crocs, and William Morris Endeavor. Once hired by William Morris, AlixPartners was responsible for finding $120 million in cost-cutting measures for IMG before the two agencies merged.
In 2003, AlixPartners began working heavily in the automotive industry. Jay Alix himself worked with the Government of Japan in order to establish a business turnaround industry in Japan and business turnaround association.
In September 2014, AlixPartners began the restructuring of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). The deal allowed PREPA to access a $280 million construction fund for infrastructure improvements for the country.
In 2015, the company started its Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness practice.
AlixPartners helped Ukrainian bank PrivatBank recover over $5 billion in assets allegedly stolen by former shareholders in 2016. In response, former co-founder Ihor Kolomoyskyi filed a 2017 lawsuit against AlixPartners. The company also worked alongside Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Niederer Kraft Frey in a case against Julius Baer, providing forensic services for an investigation into potential anti-money laundering and US sanctions violations.