Corporate Restructuring Experts Examine U.S. Bankruptcy Trends and Challenges at Financier Worldwide Roundtable

Panelists Provide Insight into Chapter 11 Trends, Forecasted 'Wall of Debt' and Outlook for At-Risk Industries

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Oct 25, 2010, 09:00 ET

LONDON, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent roundtable of U.S. corporate restructuring experts presented by Financier Worldwide Magazine offered analysis of trends and developments within the Chapter 11 environment, including at-risk industries and the projected 'wall of debt' scheduled to mature between 2012 and 2015; emerging corporate restructuring practices and strategies involving rights offerings and credit bidding; and issues within Chapter 15 and cross-border restructurings.

Moderated by James H.M. Sprayregen of Kirkland & Ellis, the Financier Worldwide U.S. Bankruptcy Roundtable featured eight panelists providing a variety of viewpoints on the issues presented. Panelists included Jonathan A. Carson of Kurtzman Carson Consultants; Barry A. Chatz of Arnstein & Lehr LLP; Neal L. Wolf of Butler Rubin Saltarelli & Boyd LLP; Aaron L. Hammer of Freeborn & Peters LLP; William Q. Derrough of Moelis & Company; Ken Ziman of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Adam Strochak of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; and Richard H. Golubow of Winthrop Couchot Professional Corporation.

Among other topics, the panel addressed the challenges distressed companies have encountered within the Chapter 11 process in recent years due to decreased liquidity in the market, and the growing prevalence of Section 363 sales and liquidations. Panelists also analyzed emerging Chapter 11 strategies that corporate debtors and their stakeholders employ to enhance recoveries and refinance debt, as well as the forecast for future Chapter 11 activity.

"Corporate bankruptcy will continue to serve as a strategic approach to help companies resolve balance sheet and operational issues," commented KCC's Jonathan Carson. "The approaching 'wall of debt' combined with higher taxes, financial reform, and potentially higher interest rates, contribute to an outlook for sustained corporate restructuring activity in years to come."

About Financier Worldwide

Financier Worldwide is a leading publisher of news and analysis on the global corporate finance market place. With leading products such as the monthly print publication, Financier Worldwide Magazine, the organisation has become recognised as a leading source of intelligence to the corporate dealmaking community. With a circulation of more than 35,000 corporate and financial professionals in 42 countries, the magazine reaches a sophisticated and influential group of professionals responsible for doing the deals that move markets and shape the corporate economy.

About KCC

Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC (KCC) www.kccllc.com, a Computershare company, provides administrative-support services that help legal professionals realize time and cost efficiencies. With an integrated suite of corporate restructuring, class action and legal document management solutions, KCC alleviates the administrative challenges of today's legal processes and procedures. KCC has gained client and industry recognition for its industry expertise, professional-level client service and proprietary technologies.

About Computershare Limited (CPU)

Computershare (ASX:CPU) is a global market leader in transfer agency and share registration, employee equity plans, proxy solicitation and stakeholder communications. We also specialize in corporate trust services, tax voucher solutions, bankruptcy administration and a range of other diversified financial and governance services. Founded in 1978, Computershare is renowned for its expertise in data management, high volume transaction processing, payments and stakeholder engagement. Many of the world's leading organizations use these core competencies to help maximize the value of relationships with their investors, employees, creditors, members and customers. Computershare is represented in all major financial markets and has over 10,000 employees worldwide. For more information, visit www.computershare.com.