Chatham Financial Partners With Intuit Real Estate Solutions

KENNETT SQUARE, PA, Sept. 23, 2009--Chatham Financial, the largest independent interest rate and foreign exchange risk management advisor, announced today a strategic alliance with Intuit Real Estate Solutions (IRES). IRES, a division of Intuit Inc., (Nasdaq: INTU) provides real estate portfolio management and accounting software solutions to the global real estate industry.

Chatham has an alliance with IRES to connect Chatham’s FMS debt management system with IRES’ IMPACT system to create a complete view of asset and debt details together in a tool that will enable users to better evaluate risks and opportunities across their portfolio.

FMS is a powerful and dynamic debt management system that provides a clear view of a company’s debt profile. FMS incorporates sophisticated interest rate modeling with real time market data giving companies information and confidence to effectively manage their debt. IMPACT is IRES’ stand-alone application that allows clients to create investment models and scenarios, to evaluate buy, hold and sell decisions, and to deliver portfolio-wide performance reporting.

“Understanding the impact of debt in the current and future valuation of assets and portfolios is key in today’s market environment, and having an integrated debt management solution is critical for our client’s success.” said Jeff Thompson, (top right photo) division president of IRES. “The combination of IMPACT and Chatham’s FMS debt management system will provide an unmatched solution for our joint clients.”

Contact:  Joy Peterson, 720 249 3606, mailto:Peterson720.249.3606jpeterson@chathamfinancial.com

Chatham Financial Launches OTC Derivatives Website to Support Informed Legislation Changes

KENNETT SQUARE, , PA, July 23, 2009 – Chatham Financial, the largest independent interest rate and currency risk management consultant, announced today that it has launched http://www.hedgingworks.com/ as a service to clients and business end users of OTC derivatives as part of an overall initiative to build awareness and better understanding of OTC derivatives legislative developments and their implications for business users.

“We support the four objectives for legislative reform that were identified by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, (bottom right photo) but the ramifications for many business users of currently proposed legislation could be profound," says Mike Bontrager, (top left photo) founder and CEO, Chatham Financial.



"Many users are only beginning to understand the implications and costs. One-size-fits all legislation is risky. If new legislation doesn’t recognize the differences between users, the responsible businesses which use OTC derivatives to mitigate everyday interest rate, foreign currency and commodity risk may be burdened with significant incremental costs.

"In addition there could be major complications with current trades, challenges with accounting hedge effectiveness, and a lack of liquidity in products that could make responsible hedging very expensive or impossible."


For further information, contact:
Joy Peterson, 720.249.3606, jpeterson@chathamfinancial.com

Chatham Financial Advises on $1.275B Bank of America Tower Financing

KENNETT SQUARE, PA – Chatham Financial has assisted The Durst Organization and Bank of America, joint venture partners in The Bank of America Tower (top left photo) at One Bryant Park, in closing the largest single asset first mortgage since the fall of 2007.

The $1.275 billion permanent financing of Bank of America Tower, a 2.4 million square foot, 54-story LEED Platinum certified office tower, which serves as New York headquarters for Bank of America, is a result of creativity and perseverance in this credit constrained market.

“Closing this transaction proves there is still money available for the best borrowers on the best assets.

" Getting a deal of this size done in today’s credit market is a testament to the relationships and stellar reputation of The Durst Organization, the strength of Bank of America as a tenant, and the unparalleled quality of this building,” Tony Talbert, Director, Chatham Financial.

Chatham acted as financial advisor to the partnership on a range of issues including loan structuring, lender solicitation, and interest rate hedging.

“Thank you to our lenders, partners and advisors for getting this deal done,” said Douglas Durst, (bottom right photo) Chairman of The Durst Organization.

“We are very proud of One Bryant Park; the building has proven to be a trailblazer. It’s the first LEED Platinum office tower in the United States.

"It was the largest skyscraper designed and built after September 11th, 2001 and now it’s the first building to get a large loan after the credit markets froze last year. We are hopeful that this financing will engender additional lending and get our city, state and nation’s economies back on track.”

Bank of America Tower is 98% occupied and includes Charlie Palmer’s Aureole Restaurant, and the restored and reconstructed Henry Miller Theater.

Contact: Joy Peterson, jpeterson@chathamfinancial.com
http://www.chathamfinancial.com/

Chatham Financial Comments on Proposed OTC Derivatives Regulation

PHILADELPHIA, PA--Yesterday, Chatham Financial, a global hedge consulting firm based in Pennsylvania, sent a letter to U.S. policymakers regarding the proposed regulation of the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market.

In the letter, Chatham’s President and CEO, Mike Bontrager, (top right photo) first expresses support for the objectives that U.S. Treasury Secretary (Timothy) Geithner (middle left photo) outlined in his May 13th letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (middle right photo) specifically noting the need for safeguards to protect against the “reckless practices of certain institutions.”

Chatham also agrees with a central theme of proposals that any new regulation should focus on the participants in the OTC derivatives market that are large enough to pose a risk to the financial system.

Mr. Bontrager raises concerns over any “indiscriminate implementation” of regulations that could adversely affect “tens of thousands of businesses throughout the U.S. and around the world.”

The letter lists concerns over regulations that might limit access to customized derivatives or impose onerous collateral requirements on the American businesses that use OTC derivatives responsibly to hedge fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and commodity prices.

These concerns are directed at certain proposals mandating clearing and exchange-trading for all OTC derivatives. “Forcing all derivatives onto exchanges or into central clearing is not the answer,” says Bontrager.

The letter cautions that companies forced to use standardized derivatives could “face significantly increased earnings volatility and accounting complexity and may be unable to qualify for hedge accounting treatment” under FAS 133.

Discussing the letter, Clark Maxwell, director of Chatham’s accounting consultancy, commented that, “We’re concerned that the accounting for derivatives could become even more complicated and may discourage prudent risk management. The benefits of customizable derivative contracts that precisely hedge a company’s risks are significant for the vast majority of end users.”

Mr. Bontrager notes, “Our hope is that in addressing the systemic risks and appropriate safeguards that need to be put in place, the ultimate impact on American businesses will not be overlooked.

"We believe that affordable access to customized methods of hedging is vital to companies whose investments are often dependent on their ability to manage risks and reduce uncertainty.”

Chatham Financial is the largest independent interest rate and foreign currency hedge consulting firm. With offices in suburban Philadelphia, Denver, London, Singapore, and Krakow, Chatham serves over 1,000 leading private and public companies worldwide. Chatham is employee-owned and is not associated with any bank.

For more information, please contact:
Sam Peterson at 484-731-0276
Joy Peterson, PH 720.249.3606. F: 720.221.3519, jpeterson@chathamfinancial.com

http://www.chathamfinancial.com/