Michael W. Morton

Michael has advised small and large-cap public and private companies, corporate boards, special committees, financial sponsors, lenders and creditor committees in situations involving financial distress. Michael’s restructuring advisory experience includes interim management and various leadership roles across financial, operational and strategic situations.

Michael’s notable recent experience includes:

• Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC) – Retained as restructuring advisor to four highly-distressed CCRC communities with over $600 million of municipal bond debt, assisting with liquidity management, business plan development, strategic alternatives evaluation, and stakeholder negotiations. The SQLC engagement team was awarded with the Non-Profit Turnaround of the Year – TMA Turnaround / Transaction Award.
• Elk Petroleum, Inc. – Retained as restructuring advisor to a publicly traded upstream oil and gas company providing board / executive advisory, liquidity support, business plan development, financing diligence, Chapter 11 preparation and administration, financial reporting, and creditor negotiations.
• Elevation Midstream, Inc. – Retained as restructuring advisor to a $500 million gathering, compression and midstream system to provide interim management support, cost rationalization initiatives, business plan development, litigation support, assistance in stakeholder settlement negotiations and evaluation of strategic alternatives.
• Signature HealthCARE – Retained as restructuring advisor to a $1.2 billion skilled nursing operator providing a broad spectrum of financial advisory services, including business plan development and stakeholder negotiation which resulted in a consensual out-of-court restructuring transaction. The Signature engagement team was awarded with the 2018 Healthcare Restructuring of the Year (over $500 million) by the M&A Advisor.
• Tenawa Resources Management – Retained as restructuring advisor and interim management to support the recapitalization of a $250 million NGL and helium processing plant through the development of a long-term business plan, cost rationalization processes, renegotiation of executory contracts, and management of short-term liquidity.

Prior to joining Ankura, Michael was a director with a national financial services firm, where he provided turnaround and restructuring advisory services. Michael began his career in the audit & risk advisory practice of a large consulting firm, where he served as an engagement manager for clients in the consumer, industrial businesses, and energy sectors.  Michael was the recipient of The M&A Advisor’s 2020 Emerging Leaders Award.