New Committee Co-chair: Weston Anson
The committee is pleased to welcome Weston Anson as a new committee co-chair.
Mr. Anson, chairman of CONSOR, an intellectual asset consulting firm is a seasoned licensing and marketing professional with a long history of successful programs at firms such as Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Playboy Enterprises and Hang Ten International. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (honors) from Harvard University and is active in all of the major international trademark and intellectual property associations as a speaker and an officer. Mr. Anson is a prolific author on the subject of licensing and intellectual property and has published over 100 articles in the United States and overseas. Since founding his intellectual property consultancy over 20 years ago, Mr. Anson has constructed and implemented numerous licensing programs for major corporations and has performed valuations of hundreds of intellectual property components.
“Getting the Deal Done”: Asset Sales in Bankruptcy Proceedings
The PowerPoint presentation, used during a discussion concerning various issues and decisions that need to be made at each step of the sale process, at this year’s Annual Spring Meeting is available below.
Download the full presentation.
Annual Spring Meeting Minutes
A meeting of the ABI’s Asset Sales Committee was convened at 9:30 a.m. on April 30, 2005, in connection with the ABI’s Annual Spring Meeting, April 28–May 1. Presiding at the meeting were committee Co-chairmen David Peress and Richard Tilton.
David Peress advised the committee that after more than a decade of service, Rick Tilton had decided to step down as committee co-chairman. Mr. Peress thanked Mr. Tilton for his guidance and leadership to the committee.
Mr. Tilton addressed the committee and reflected back on its formative years as the Asset Sales Task Force, before it was elevated to official committee status. He commented on how important the §363 assets sales process had become to most bankruptcy and restructuring professionals and how the committee had grown in size and prominence as a result. Mr. Tilton advised the committee that he had reached an agreement with ABI to create a second edition of his book, Bankruptcy Business Acquisitions, which would be jointly marketed by Mr. Tilton and ABI. He noted that the last supplement to the first edition had been created in March 2002 and with the evolution in practice and new Bankruptcy Code amendments, a new edition was now appropriate. Rick indicated that he may reach out to certain members of the committee to solicit their participation in this project.
Mr. Peress then introduced the incoming co-chairman, Wes Anson, chairman of CONSOR, an intellectual asset consulting firm. Mr. Anson’s appointment as co-chairman becomes effective at the conclusion of the Annual Spring Meeting. Mr. Anson indicated that he had undertaken the responsibility for producing the committee’s e-newsletter and invited input and participation from both lawyer and non-lawyer members of the committee.
Finally, Mr. Peress indicated that as part of the ABI’s “Get Involved” campaign, there were many opportunities for Committee members to participate in the development of the committee’s educational programs and other initiatives. He asked that any members interested in developing the committee’s program for the Winter Leadership Conference contact him; he will form a working group to design a program that would address the affects of the new Bankruptcy Code amendments on the asset sales process.
Mr. Peress then introduced the educational portion of the meeting, which was the first of a two-part presentation moderated by Rick Mikels of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo PC titled “Getting the Deal Done: Asset Sales in Bankruptcy Proceedings.” The other panelists were Howard Brownstein of NachmanHaysBrownstein Inc., Andy Grasier of DJM Asset Management, Carmen H. Lonstein of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC, David Peress of XRoads Solutions Group LLC and Lisa M. Poulin of FTI Palladium Partners. Former Asset Sales Committee Co-chairman Benjamin Nortman of Hilco Trading Co. Inc. participated in the preparation of the materials but was unable to attend the presentation.
The panel utilized a PowerPoint Q&A to stimulate discussion concerning various issues and decisions that need to be made at each step of the sale process. They discussed different choices that parties could make and the pros and cons of each. The panel discussion continued following the conclusion of the Asset Sales Committee meeting as a concurrent educational session and the educational materials produced by the panel were incorporated into the book of educational materials provided to each attendee of the Annual Spring Meeting.