Lender debt recovery
End-to-end recovery strategy for defaulted commercial, SME and property-backed loans — demand, enforcement options, negotiated exits and realisation.
Discuss a default →Specialist lender recovery · Australia-wide
When a loan turns, speed is recovery.
SME Recoveries works for lenders from the first sign of stress to the final distribution — pre-lending due diligence, investigative accounting reviews, receiverships and mortgagee in possession engagements. A lean, principal-led firm built to move quickly and keep recovery costs in proportion to the debt.
Led by Ignatius Campos, Principal
Services
One team across the life of a distressed loan.
Lenders don't need a different recovery agent at each stage of a default. We carry the file with the lawyers from review through to recovery, so the knowledge built early is working for you when enforcement starts.
Receiverships
Taking control of secured assets and businesses quickly — securing, trading on where it preserves value, and running a sale process that stands up to scrutiny.
Receiverships →Investigative accountant reviews
Independent reviews of a borrower/guarantor's financial position, cash flow and security cover, with clear options and a recommendation the credit committee can act on.
IA engagements →Mortgagee in possession
Conducting and supporting lenders who take possession of mortgaged property — possession logistics, holding costs, agent appointment, campaign oversight and settlement.
MIP engagements →Pre-lending due diligence
Financial and security due diligence before settlement — testing LVRs and servicing, related-party exposure, existing security and the story behind the numbers.
Request a review →Insolvency & restructuring advice
Advice to lenders on borrower insolvency — liquidation, voluntary administration and small business restructuring — and what each means for your security and recovery.
Get advice →Engagements
Where we fit in your recovery.
Three engagement types make up most lender recoveries. Each has its own triggers, duties and pressure points — and each rewards a team that can start the same day it's instructed.
Receiverships: control of the security, without the drag.
When a secured lender appoints a receiver or receiver and manager, the first weeks decide the outcome. Assets need securing, cash needs controlling and a sale strategy needs setting before value leaks away.
What we do
- Mobilise on appointment: secure assets, premises, bank accounts, books and records
- Rapid meaningful assessment of whether to trade on, mothball or sell
- Stakeholder management: employees, landlords, suppliers, PPSR-registered creditors and directors
- Run and document a market-tested sale process for the business or assets
- Regular, transparent reporting to the lender on realisations and costs
Why speed matters here
Every week in receivership costs the lender.
- Trading losses, circulating pools, rent and insurance accrue against the recovery
- Customers, staff and goodwill drift once uncertainty sets in
- Early control stops asset leakage and related-party transfers
Duties to keep in view
A receiver/controller of company property who sells must take all reasonable care to sell for not less than market value, or otherwise the best price reasonably obtainable. We build the compliance and sale evidence file from day one.
Investigative accountant: an independent read before you act.
Before enforcing, lenders often appoint an investigating accountant under their loan documents to find out what's really going on. A well-run IA review tells the credit committee whether the business can be worked out — or whether to move to appointment.
What we do
- Review current trading, management accounts, cash flow and short-term forecasts
- Test the security position: asset values, priorities, PPSR registrations and shortfall exposure
- Assess solvency indicators, tax and statutory arrears, and related-party dealings
- Evaluate management's turnaround plan and any refinance or sale proposals
- Deliver a concise report with options ranked by expected recovery, and a clear recommendation
Why speed matters here
An IA review is a decision tool — late is useless.
- Short, scoped fieldwork keeps the borrower cooperative
- Early findings let the lender preserve position while options narrow
- If appointment follows, the groundwork is already done
Keeping it clean
We scope each review to the lender's contractual rights under the facility and security documents, and are clear from the outset about our role and independence — so the report holds up if enforcement follows.
Mortgagee in possession: from possession to settlement, managed.
When a lender enforces directly against real property, it steps into an owner's shoes — with the costs, risks and scrutiny that come with it. We give lenders a hands-on team to run the property from possession through to sale.
What we do
- Coordinate with the lender's lawyers on default notices, timing and taking possession
- Secure, insure and inspect the property; manage tenants, utilities and holding costs
- Obtain independent valuations and appoint agents through a competitive selection
- Oversee the marketing campaign so it is broad, adequate and properly documented
- Manage settlement, reconcile proceeds and account to the lender and other interested parties
Why speed matters here
Holding costs and interest keep running.
- Rates, insurance and security costs erode the equity buffer
- Vacant properties deteriorate — and attract risk
- A prompt, well-run campaign protects price and the lender's position
Duties to keep in view
A mortgagee exercising its power of sale must act in good faith and, under statute in several states, take reasonable care to obtain market value. Regulated consumer loans add National Credit Code notice requirements. We document every step with that scrutiny in mind.
Built for speed
A young firm, designed around how recoveries actually go wrong.
Most recovery value is lost in delay and overhead: waiting for a team to be staffed, for instructions to pass through layers, for reports nobody reads. SME Recoveries was set up to remove those steps.
Principal-led, every file
Ignatius Campos is on every engagement. Lenders deal directly with the person making decisions — no layers of hand-offs.
Mobilise in days, not weeks
A lean structure with Aus wide resources means we can scope, quote and be on the ground quickly when a loan needs attention.
Cost in proportion to the debt
Scoped engagements and clear fee estimates, designed so that SME and mid-market recoveries make commercial sense.
Reporting you can act on
Timely, decision-focused updates for credit teams: where things stand, what it's costing, and what we recommend next.
How an instruction runs
From first call to final distribution.
Every matter is different, but the rhythm is consistent. Here's what a lender can expect once we're instructed.
Triage call
We hear the facts, review the facility and security position, and flag urgent risks.
Scope & fee proposal
A written scope, strategy and fee estimate — sized to the debt and the assets.
Mobilise
Fieldwork begins, or we act on appointment or possession: control, secure, assess, realise.
Realise
Trade-on or sale strategy executed, market-tested and documented.
Account & close
Proceeds reconciled, distributions made and a final report to the lender.
Ignatius Campos
Principal · SME Recoveries
Ignatius leads SME Recoveries and personally oversees every engagement. His work spans lender debt recovery, insolvency and restructuring, investigative accounting and pre-lending due diligence for lenders across Australia.
He founded the firm on a simple view: lenders get better recoveries when the practitioner is quick to act, close to the detail and focused on the net return — not the size of the fee.
Who we act for
Lenders who need a recovery partner that moves at their pace (or faster).
We work with lenders of every size, but we're built for the loans where large-firm cost structures don't fit — SME, mid-market and property-backed exposures where every dollar of cost comes straight off the recovery.
Non-bank & private lendersFirst and second mortgage, bridging and construction books
Private credit fundsFund managers and trustees with direct-lending exposure
Banks & credit unionsBusiness banking and SME workout teams
Asset & equipment financiersSecured positions over plant, equipment and vehicles
Lenders' solicitorsWorking alongside legal teams on enforcement
Brokers & originatorsPre-lending due diligence on complex deals and/or refinancing defaulted loans
Instruct us
Have a loan that needs attention? Brief us on the matter
Tell us about the facility, the security and what's changed. We'll come back with an initial view and the fastest sensible path to recovery. All enquiries are treated confidentially.
- Principal
- Ignatius Campos
- recoveries@smerecoveries.com.au
- Postal
- PO Box 20782 WORLD SQUARE NSW 2002
- Phone
- 02 7235 2375
- Coverage
- All Australian states and territories with Head office in Sydney