Aaron L. Hammer, Esq. engaged as co-counsel to Official Committee of Equity Security Holders of AgFeed USA, LLC, et al. (Bankr. D. Del.)
08/23/2013WILMINGTON, Delaware (August 23, 2013) the Official Committee of Equity Security Holders (the "Equity Committee") of AgFeed USA, LLC, et al. (the “Debtors”) selected Aaron L. Hammer, Esq. of Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Hammer LLP ("SFGH") of Chicago, Illinois and Rafael X. Zahralddin-Aravena, Esq. of Elliott Greenleaf of Wilmington, Delaware, as its legal counsel. The Equity Committee has additionally sought to retain Gavin/Solmonese LLC to serve as its financial advisor.
AgFeed USA, LLC, and its fifteen affiliated debtors comprise an international agribusiness with operations in the United States and China. Recognized as a leader in all aspects of hog production efficiency, the Debtors are one of the largest hog producers and marketers – with a broad scope of clientele, including Fortune 500 companies. The Debtors also supply safe, high-quality animal nutrition internationally to clients, serving over 900 commercial accounts and distributing to over 1,800 independent retail stores. As of the petition date, the Debtors employed approximately 200 employees, and had net annual revenues in excess of $244 million. The Debtors’ assets are worth between $100 million and $500 million, and they have moved to sell substantially all of their personal and nonresidential real property through a bankruptcy section 363 sale.
Aaron L. Hammer leads SFGH’s national bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice, which includes Etahn M. Cohen, Leland H. Chait, Christopher J. Horvay, Mark S. Melickian, Michael A. 2 Brandess, Jack R. O’Connor, David M. Madden and Jamie R. Netznik. In addition to AgFeed USA, LLC, et al., SFGH has significant experience representing official committees in such proceedings across the country, and specific industry experience with respect to hog production, including its experience as counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in Natural Pork Production II, LLP and its affiliated bankruptcy cases (Bankr. S.D Iowa), Main Case No. 12-02872, the largest hog production operation in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding prior to the Debtors’ filing. Similar to the Debtors’ Cases, the Natural Pork Production cases involve both significant domestic and foreign assets, making SugarFGH ideally suited to represent the Equity Committee. With respect to general bankruptcy matters, SFGH’s attorneys have represented debtors, creditors’ and equity committees, bondholders, ad hoc committees, officers and directors, and other parties-in-interest in numerous bankruptcy cases in the District of Delaware and in other jurisdictions, including advising on agriculture-related and complex cross-border insolvency issues.
SFGH’s bankruptcy and creditors’ rights attorneys have been recognized by Chambers USA: Leading Lawyers for Business and Turnaround and Workouts as leaders in the field, and have been quoted on insolvency issues in, among other places, The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. Heading into its fourth decade, Chicago-based SFGH continues to build enduring, trusted relationships with its clients and provide them with creative legal solutions and paths to success in challenging and changing business environments.
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