READING, PA, December 11, 2014 – Thomas G. Whalen and Glenn S. Bernabeo, Co-Heads of Griffin’s Financial Restructuring Group, presented at the Pennsylvania Bankers Association Lending Conference held November 20-21, 2014, in Hershey, PA.
Messrs. Whalen and Bernabeo presented “Transaction Options for Maximizing Recovery on Troubled Credits: An investment banker’s perspective on today’s capital markets environment for distressed companies.” The speakers discussed trends in both the refinancing and merger and acquisition markets for troubled middle market companies, including the current market cycle, the options for liquidity realization today and the outlook for the next five years.
Mr. Whalen provides investment banking services, including the placement of senior debt, mezzanine and private equity financing for middle market companies. This includes companies in special situations, companies in transition and companies facing immediate financial difficulties. He also assists clients by providing both buy-side and sell-side merger and acquisition advisory services in and out of Chapter 11 cases. Mr. Whalen’s background as a bankruptcy lawyer provides clients with important insights into the interplay of bankruptcy law and commercial finance.
He received a B.A., cum laude, and a J.D. from Temple University. He holds a post-graduate certificate in Finance and Accounting from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association. He holds Series 7, 63 and 79 licenses from FINRA.
Mr. Bernabeo assists clients in special situations with transactional solutions to financial, operational or liquidity challenges. His transactional expertise includes M&A advisory, complex restructurings and recapitalizations, refinancings and capital raises for senior, second lien and subordinated debt. He has led and completed over 40 transactional assignments both inside and outside of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
Mr. Bernabeo holds an MBA in Finance from The Pennsylvania State University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2000 and has published articles in the ABF Journal and the Journal of Corporate Renewal. He holds Series 79 and 7 licenses from FINRA.
