SOLVENCY OPINION

A solvency opinion provides assurance to a company's Board of Directors and/or the lenders that the transaction will not likely subject the Company and its unsecured and other creditors to undue financial distress. Houlihan will undertake a solvency opinion engagement for companies involved in highly leveraged transactions. Examples include leveraged buyouts, leveraged recapitalizations, leveraged dividends or other such situations where there may be minimal equity involved. Houlihan has also completed solvency opinions for spin-off transactions in conjunction with capital restructuring and significant debt refinancing.

The Federal Bankruptcy Code defines "insolvent" as the condition in which the total of a person's debts exceeds the value of its property at a fair valuation. Recent case law suggests that the fair valuation of property is its value on a going-concern basis. A solvency letter expresses an independent expert opinion on a borrower's ability to remain solvent under the burden of additional liability, to pay debts as they mature, and to continue operations as a going-concern in dynamic economic conditions.

In connection with a leveraged recapitalization, interested parties such as new secured lenders and sellers will often, due to fraudulent conveyance concerns, seek an independent determination and opinion as to the impact of the acquisition debt on working capital, cash flow, and equity value. Houlihan is highly familiar with the Tests of Capitalization and Solvency and is able to efficiently and cost-effectively provide analysis that provides a layer of comfort to interested parties.

Some of the advantages of incorporating a Houlihan Solvency Opinion into a leveraged transaction include:

• Establishing the lender's trust in making the loan
• Proffering a form of due diligence and evidence of good faith
• Mitigating the risk of bankruptcy liability for all parties to the transaction

The Houlihan name is synonymous with independence and valuation expertise. Please contact Andrew Smith, president, to confidentially discuss potential solvency transactions.