Business Credit Magazine February 2014 | Page 34

Tuesday, May 18 - continued 18046. Bad Debt, Real World Tips and Tools to Minimize Your Losses 18042. Creditors’ Committees Moderator: Tom Corbett, Marsh Trade Credit A panel of credit executives and subject experts discusses the techniques that can be employed to minimize financial losses. Risk mitigation strategies and short- and long-term tools for minimizing bad debt losses are further highlighted. The panel addresses security agreements, guaranties, credit insurance, credit default swaps, receivable puts and more. In addition, counterparty risk—the risk that the entity you buy credit protection from has the ability to pay in the event of a loss—is explored. Speakers:  anda Borges, Esq., Borges & Associates, LLC, W Bruce Nathan, Esq., Lowenstein Sandler PC and Val Venable, CCE, SABIC Innovative Plastics It is a new bankruptcy world. The traditional methods used by traditional creditors’ committees are no longer the most effective. This program focuses on how creditors’ committees can protect unsecured creditor rights, identify and recover value for unsecured creditors and increase their leverage in a far faster Chapter 11 process than traditionally experienced. The economic downturn and credit crunch, the increased participation of non-traditional lenders with “loan to own” strategies, changes under the 2005 BAPCPA bankruptcy amendments and the increased reluctance of lenders to support a financially distressed customer’s restructuring efforts have changed  Chapter 11 as we know it. As the traditional restructuring of a debtor’s business, at one time the hallmark of Chapter 11, has been replaced by Chapter 11s that move much faster through prepackaged or pre-negotiated plans or Bankruptcy Code Section 363 sales, traditional committee activities and actions have become ineffective. Committees are being forced to adapt to the new realities of Chapter 11 practice to protect the interests of unsecured creditors. Topics for the program include how creditors are selected for committee membership, the advantages and disadvantages of serving on a committee, the trend of committee members with conflicting interests (including trade, Section 503(b)(9) claimants, bond, union, PBGC and landlords) and the role of committee professionals and their interaction with members. The program also includes an in-depth discussion of tools available to committees to extract value for unsecured creditors, such as opposing sales; considering conversion or dismissal of cases, terminating plan exclusivity, litigating  plan confirmation requirements and financial valuations; investigating and pursuing preference, fraudulent transfer, breach of fiduciary duty and related claims against secured lenders, insiders and other third parties; and dealing with Section 503(b)(9) 20 day goods priority claims and trade preference claims. 18043. Pragmatic Approaches to Quickly Analyze Large Credit Risks Moderator: Al Carmenini, CreditRiskMonitor Panel:  d Bell, Ph.D., CBA, CICP, W.W. Grainger, Inc., Camilo Gomez, Ph.D., E Lone Pine Mesa Consulting and Larry O’Brien, CCE, CICP, Potash Corp. A team of experts presents case studies to illustrate time-proven techniques they personally use to quickly analyze the financials of large companies. Learn best practices for quantifying associated risk and matching it to your own company’s risk threshold. The panel will also share tips and techniques to proactively satisfy the challenging risk analysis CFOs demand today. They will impart their expertise,