Howard L. Konicov, CPA, CIRA
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Functional Expertise
Howard L. Konicov is a partner in J.H. Cohn’s Business Investigation Services Group. He has over 20 years of experience in providing forensic and insolvency accounting services to financially troubled companies, secured and unsecured creditors, and other stakeholders during workout, turnaround, and bankruptcy situations. Mr. Konicov also performs viability analyses, fraud investigations, and litigation support services. He has significant experience in the healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, construction, and real estate industries.
Mr. Konicov provides extensive due diligence services to private equity firms and other interested acquirers of active businesses. Such services include value-added analyses and advice in connection with quality of earnings, debt service capacities, and collateral adequacy studies. He provides expert insight to clients as they proceed through complex financial transactions.
Mr. Konicov is a member of the New Jersey State Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, the New York Institute of Credit, the Turnaround Managers Association, and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Mr. Konicov has published articles and is a frequent presenter on creditors’ rights and bankruptcy issues, including restructuring, business workouts, and the accountant’s role in the bankruptcy process.
Experience Highlights- J.H. Cohn represented a large Northeast regional retailer in a Chapter 11 liquidation. Mr. Konicov led the team in advising management and assisting the Company in its preparation for a Chapter 11 filing. He played an integral role in negotiations with the secured and unsecured creditors and in analyzing alternative liquidation scenarios. In addition,
Mr. Konicov was instrumental in the design and implementation of a consensual wind-down budget, and he directed communication with the Debtor’s secured lender and unsecured creditor committee. Mr. Konicov also advised management in the Debtor’s determination and prioritization of store closures and pricing discounts. As a result of the Firm’s involvement, the secured lender was paid in full, and the unsecured creditors stand to benefit from a significant cash recovery.
- J.H. Cohn recently served as financial advisors to the unsecured creditors’ committee of a New Jersey-based aluminum manufacturer. Mr. Konicov was the team leader on the engagement and the advocate to the Committee as it negotiated a successful outcome in the bankruptcy proceeding. In particular, the Debtor initially proposed a plan which would have been unfavorable to the unsecured creditors. Through communication and proactive financial analysis, Mr. Konicov and the J.H. Cohn team solicited and obtained an improved resolution through the successful sale of the Debtor as a going-concern entity. Notwithstanding opposition imposed by the Debtor’s incumbent plan sponsor and board, the Committee was successful in securing an outcome which will result in a meaningful cash recovery for the creditors.
- Mr. Konicov led the J.H. Cohn team in its representation of a major private equity firm as it pursued the acquisition of a New York transportation logistics operator. Mr. Konicov’s business analysis provided valuable insight into the earnings and debt load capacity of the Target, in addition to due diligence validation of the quality and performance levels of the assets. The results of this due diligence directly influenced the client’s ability to enhance the business terms of the acquisition.
- J.H. Cohn represented a large Southeast chemical manufacturer in the petroleum industry. The company filed for Chapter 11 in order to restructure debts associated with patent infringement judgment claims. Mr. Konicov advised the Company in its Chapter 11 proceeding through his leadership of negotiations with the secured creditors for debtor-in-possession financing, establishment of reporting and communication protocols required in a Chapter context, and the ultimate design of a business plan which led to a 100 percent creditor recovery through a contested plan of reorganization.
Accreditations
Certified Public Accountant, New York, 1987
Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor, 1994
Passed the examination phase of the Certified Turnaround Professional’s certification process, 2009
Education
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Rhode Island, 1984