Curtis Transaction a Finalist for Two Turnaround Awards

The Chapter 11 Reorganization of North American Petroleum Corporation USA and its affiliates (NAPCUS), where Curtis acted as counsel to the Official Committee of Equity Security Holders, has been nominated for two awards by the M&A Advisor. The NAPCUS matter has been selected as a finalist for the Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year (Middle Market) award and for the Sector Transaction of the Year (Energy) award in the M&A Advisor's 6th Annual Turnaround Awards. The winners will be announced at the Awards Gala on January 31, 2012, in Palm Beach, Florida.

In announcing the NAPCUS nomination, the M&A Advisor identified Curtis as one of the industry's leading firms.

The NAPCUS matter involved a complex restructuring of a publicly-traded Southwestern natural gas drilling company, with stockholders throughout the United States and Canada. Though rarely formed in United States bankruptcies, through the efforts of Curtis acting for several affected clients, an Official Committee of Equity Security Holders was appointed in the NAPCUS Chapter 11 cases and Curtis was selected to act as its lead counsel. In that capacity, Curtis negotiated for and obtained an equally rare distribution for equity under the Chapter 11 plan. In part due to these efforts, NAPCUS successfully emerged from Chapter 11 on September 30, 2011.

The Curtis team was led by partner Timothy Barnes and included partners Nancy Delaney and Evan Borenstein, counsel Raymond Hum and associate Peter Buenger.

Last year Curtis received similar recognition for advising in the acquisition of Marquis Jet Holdings, Inc. by NetJets Inc. The Marquis Jet transaction was awarded the Upper Middle-Market Deal of the Year (from $400 million up to $1 billion) in the 10th Annual M&A Advisor Awards.