Industry Insights: Exclusive Interviews

Julie Miecamp, Deputy Global Head of Editorial at Octus, opens the episode by framing why European restructuring is at an inflection point. Part 26A is being shaped in real time through hard cases, liability management is now firmly transatlantic, and the question of what restructuring is actually for has not been this contested in years. She then hands off to Chris Haffenden, Senior Editor at Octus, in conversation with Andrew Wilkinson, restructuring partner at Weil.
Wilkinson has had a front-row seat to every major chapter of European distressed since 1985. He walks through how the scheme of arrangement, born in Bermudian insurance restructurings, became the engine for European high yield (06:04), how Eurotunnel's 14 tranches of debt accidentally created the European distressed trading market (11:01), and his Goldman years through the financial crisis, including the taxi ride to brief the Chancellor on Northern Rock (19:23). The conversation turns to the trio of Part 26A cases that have rewritten the playbook (29:54), and closes on why advisors have let restructuring get too complicated (41:31).
The throughline: fix the company, get it back to work. Somewhere the industry lost sight of that.
----more----
Hosted by Julie Miecamp Guest Interviewer: Chris Haffenden, Senior Editor, Octus Guest: Andrew Wilkinson, Restructuring Partner, Weil Producer Tanya Hubbard A Production of The Octus Podcast Network
 

Show Notes

Julie Miecamp, Deputy Global Head of Editorial at Octus, opens the episode by framing why European restructuring is at an inflection point. Part 26A is being shaped in real time through hard cases, liability management is now firmly transatlantic, and the question of what restructuring is actually for has not been this contested in years. She then hands off to Chris Haffenden, Senior Editor at Octus, in conversation with Andrew Wilkinson, restructuring partner at Weil.

Wilkinson has had a front-row seat to every major chapter of European distressed since 1985. He walks through how the scheme of arrangement, born in Bermudian insurance restructurings, became the engine for European high yield (06:04), how Eurotunnel's 14 tranches of debt accidentally created the European distressed trading market (11:01), and his Goldman years through the financial crisis, including the taxi ride to brief the Chancellor on Northern Rock (19:23). The conversation turns to the trio of Part 26A cases that have rewritten the playbook (29:54), and closes on why advisors have let restructuring get too complicated (41:31).

The throughline: fix the company, get it back to work. Somewhere the industry lost sight of that.

----more----

Hosted by Julie Miecamp
Guest Interviewer: Chris Haffenden, Senior Editor, Octus
Guest: Andrew Wilkinson, Restructuring Partner, Weil
Producer Tanya Hubbard
A Production of The Octus Podcast Network

 

What is Industry Insights: Exclusive Interviews?

Go beyond the headlines with in-depth conversations featuring top industry leaders across the entire credit lifecycle. From CLOs and private credit to the broader financial landscape under the Octus umbrella, this series delivers expert perspectives, market-shaping insights, and exclusive analysis to keep you ahead of the curve.