ABI’s INVESTMENT BANKING PROGRAM TO BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOUTHWEST BANKRUPTCY CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS SEPT. 8-9

August 8, 2005, Alexandria, VA – The American Bankruptcy Institute’s (ABI’s) 2005 Investment Banking Program will be held Sept. 8-9 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. The program will offer a unique approach to understanding the role of investment bankers in insolvency and restructuring contexts. A case-study presentation will dramatize the various perspectives of parties-in-interest as they examine strategic alternatives and seek the highest value for a hypothetical insolvent company. Leaders in the industry will play the role of the major constituents as they work through the case study in this day-long program.

CrystalRestaurant Holdings: A Case Study and Discussion in Restructuring , M&A and Refinancing Solutions will be co-chaired and moderated by James D. Decker of Houlihan Lokey Howard and Zukin (Atlanta) and Peter S. Kaufman of Gordon Group LLC (New York). Joining them will be parties-in-interest Laura Davis Jones of Pachulski, Stang, Ziehl, Young, Jones and Weintraub PC (Wilmington, Del.); William K. Snyder of Corporate Revitalization Partners LLC (Dallas); Peter M. Gilhuly of Latham & Watkins (Los Angeles); Mitchell E. Drucker of CIT Group Inc. (New York); Joel B. Piassick of Harbert Management (Birmingham, Al.) Jeffrey S. Sabin of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (New York), Rebecca A. Roof of AlixPartners LLC (New York); Ilene J. Lashinsky (Phoneix) and Hon. Wesley W. Steen (Houston).

The Financing Proposal will follow the case study presentation, and will be moderated by William Q. Derrough of Jefferies and Company Inc. (New York), Walter M. Schuppe of Capital Source LLC (Farmington, Conn.) and Mark K. Thomas of Jenner & Block LLLP (Chicago).

The Restructuring Proposal will feature a panel comprised of   Richard A. Chesley of Jones Day (Chicago), Joel H. Levitin of Dechert LLP (New York), Richard Williamson of Alvarez & Marsal LLC (Phoenix) and Barry W. Ridings of Lazard Freres (New York).

The final session, The Merger & Acquisition Proposal, will feature panelists Sarah Robinson Borders of King & Spaulding LLP (Atlanta), Mark E. Chesen of SSG Capital Advisors LP (Conshohocken, PA) and Anthony H.N. Schnelling of Bridge Associates LLC (New York).

For additional information, visit http://www.abiworld.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Meetings_and_Events/Upcoming_Events1/Investment_Banking_Program2/Intro.htm.

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ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, non-partisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes over 10,900 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit ABI World. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.