Developments in Trading Claims: Participations and Disputed Claims

The two years since our last paper on trading claims' have seen an explosion in the market for claims against Chapter 11 debtors. More institutions are involved in buying, selling, and brokering claims than ever before. Goldman, Sachs & Company, Salomon Brothers Inc., Lazard Freres & Company, Inc., and Kidder Peabody & Company have joined Oppenheimer & Company, and Bear, Stearns & Company as established Wall Street houses making markets in distressed claims. Commercial banks such as First National Bank of Chicago, ING Bank, and Citibank, N.A. now buy and sell bank claims against distressed debtors.