Zone of Insolvency

Zone of Insolvency

Global financial response to the COVID-19 crisis

By Howard Seife (US) on Posted in Bankruptcy Courts, Involuntary Bankruptcy, US

We have launched our interactive cross-border guide to the financial support on offer to businesses during the COVID-19 crisis and considerations for banks, corporates and directors trading through the turmoil.

We also look at some of the issues being considered in the lending market as well as changes in insolvency law, reviewable transactions and tips for good governance of distressed companies.

Hopefully this guide will be of assistance to global operators looking to compare and contrast the impact of the crisis on their financial arrangements across a number of relevant jurisdictions.

A link to the product is here: https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/covid-19-InternationalGovernmentResponse

Howard … Continue Reading

UK Update: Foreign solvent proceedings not recognised in England under the UNCITRAL model law (as enacted)

By Matthew Thorn (UK) and Joseph McHale (UK) on Posted in Europe, UK

Introduction

In Carter v Bailey and Hutchinson (as foreign representatives of Sturgeon Central Asia Balanced Fund Ltd) [2020] EWHC 123 (Ch), the English High Court found that a foreign solvent liquidation could not be recognised under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 (CBIR) (which enacted the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency in Great Britain). Accordingly, the court terminated the recognition order granted previously.

Key points to note

  • It was held to be contrary to the purpose and object of the UNCITRAL Model Law to interpret “foreign proceedings” as including solvent debtors and proceedings directed to producing returns for members instead
… Continue Reading

US group uses an English scheme of arrangement to restructure its debts

By Matthew Thorn (UK), Mark Craggs (UK), Evan Cobb (CA) and Francisco Vazquez (US) on Posted in UK, US

On 10 September 2019 the High Court in London sanctioned two schemes of arrangement as a part of the successful restructuring of the syncreon group. This transaction was unique because it involved a US based group utilising an English scheme of arrangement to surgically restructure its debts, avoiding an all-encompassing insolvency process. Recognition of the English procedure was obtained in the US and Canada.

The syncreon group is a global specialized contract logistics company supplying the automotive and technology industry. The group is headquartered in Michigan, USA with over 100 locations in 20 countries and 14,000 employees worldwide.

As … Continue Reading

Federal Court deems Halifax a “classic candidate” for cross border insolvency cooperation

By Mark Schneider (AU) on Posted in Administration

On August 22, 2019, Justice Gleeson delivered her judgment in Re Halifax.

Halifax Australia (Halifax Aus) owned and operated a number of Halifax investment services companies operating under the Halifax name in various locations around the world.

In late 2018, liquidators were appointed to Halifax Aus. At the time, Halifax owned 70% of Halifax New Zealand (Halifax NZ).

As a part of business operations, funds were transferred between Halifax Aus and Halifax NZ on an “as needs basis”. A majority (95%) of the funds held on trust by the Halifax group were affected by commingling. … Continue Reading

Supreme Court settles trademark Circuit split

By Samuel Kohn (US), Susan Ross (US), Bandar Al-Saif (US) and Joy Wang (US) on Posted in US

On May 20, 2019, the US Supreme Court ruled that a licensor’s rejection of a trademark license in bankruptcy does not terminate the licensee’s right to continue using the licensed mark. Mission Product Holdings Inc. v. Tempnology LLC, 587 US __ (2019). The decision brings trademarks into alignment with how patents and copyrights are already treated under the Bankruptcy Code.

Samuel Kohn, Susan Ross, Bandar Al-Saif and Joy Wang have provided a briefing.… Continue Reading

The Corporations Amendment (Strengthening Protections for Employee Entitlements) Act 2019 commenced April 6, 2019

By Natasha Toholka (AU) and Cassie Mortimer (AU) on Posted in Australia

Australia has a taxpayer funded scheme which guarantees employee entitlements arising out of liquidation up to statutory caps. It is known as the Fair Entitlements Guarantee Scheme (FEG). The Australian Government has become concerned that questionable practices which rely on FEG to avoid employee entitlement obligations, such as illegal phoenixing, are on the rise and imposing significant costs on FEG and therefore, the Australian taxpayer. The Government has introduced legislative amendments to facilitate the effective recovery of entitlements from parties which take part in these questionable practices.… Continue Reading

UNCITRAL draft Model Law on Enterprise Group Insolvency

By Scott Atkins (AU), John Martin (AU) and Sophie Hewitt (AU) on Posted in Australia

In December 2018, UNCITRAL Working Group V (Insolvency Law) held its 54th session in Vienna where it discussed, among other topics, cross border insolvency of enterprise groups. These discussions included amendments to the Enterprise Group Insolvency: Draft Model Law (‘draft Model Law’) and the Enterprise Group Insolvency: Guide to Enactment of the Draft Model Law (‘draft Guide to Enactment’). The Working Group began drafting the Model Law after agreeing to the UNCITRAL mandate in December 2013.… Continue Reading

Opposing the National Bankruptcy Conference’s proposal to legislatively repeal Fairfield Sentry

By Howard Seife (US), Andrew Rosenblatt (US) and Francisco Vazquez (US) on Posted in US

On August 20, 2018, the National Bankruptcy Conference (the “NBC”), a group of bankruptcy judges, professors, and professionals that has consulted with Congress on the drafting of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, sent a letter to Congress proposing a series of amendments to Chapter 15, which governs the process for obtaining recognition of a foreign insolvency or restructuring proceeding in the U.S. … Continue Reading

English Court of Appeal affirms application of the “Gibbs Rule” in a cross-border restructuring

By Scott Atkins (AU) and Francisco Vazquez (US) on Posted in Australia, US

Under the English common law rule known as the “Gibbs rule,” a contractual obligation can be changed or discharged only in accordance with the law governing that obligation. Consequently, a debt governed by English law may not be discharged in a foreign insolvency or under a foreign restructuring plan unless the creditor submits to the foreign insolvency proceeding or consents to the plan. Earlier this week, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales affirmed the application of the Gibbs rule in a case under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 (“CBIR”), Great Britain’s version of the UNCITRAL Model … Continue Reading

High Court of Australia rules that “holding” deeds of company arrangements are valid

By Jeffery Black (AU) and Nicole Schaillee on Posted in Australia

BVI based creditor – Mighty River International Limited – challenged the validity of a “holding” deed of company arrangement (or a ‘holding DOCA’) approved by creditors of Australian miner Mesa Minerals Limited (Company). … Continue Reading