On September 23 2009 the Amsterdam District Court granted the holder of a pledge over the shares in the capital of Schoeller Arca Systems Services BV authorization for foreclosure on the pledge by way of a private sale. Foreclosure on a pledge over Dutch shares is rare. The decision introduces the possibility for a secured lender either to wipe out subordinated mezzanine debt or to implement a loan-to-own strategy.

 

Facts

In 2007 Schoeller Arca Systems, its parent and subsidiaries (known as the SAS Group) entered into:

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Introduction

The credit crisis has led to many opportunities for financial and strategic buyers to purchase all or part of a business or assets from financially troubled companies at significantly discounted prices. In such deals, buyers run the risk that the transaction may be set aside on the basis of voidable preference rules (the so-called 'actio pauliana').

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The Act amending the Financial Markets Supervision Act and the Bankruptcy Act (Wet tot wijziging van de Wet op het financieel toezicht en de Faillissementswet) in connection with consolidation of claims on the estate in the event of emergency regulations, moratorium on payments and bankruptcy, and requests for compensation on the grounds of the Safety Net Scheme entered into force on 16 March 20091.

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A recent insolvency law case in the Dutch Supreme Court could have serious consequences for software licensees faced with a bankrupt supplier or licensor. The effect of the judgment may be to render traditional software escrow agreements insufficient and to require additional protective measures.

Summary

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This update discusses an issue that may arise in relation to the recognition of foreign bankruptcies where the law of the receiving state does not provide for admittance proceedings. This issue recently arose in the Yukos proceedings.

Facts

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On November 1 2007 the State Commission for Insolvency Law presented the Preliminary Bill for an Insolvency Act to the minister of justice. The most important changes to the existing Bankruptcy Act are outlined in this update.

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On 13 February 2009, the CDM Executive Board (CDM EB) adopted the procedures (the "Procedures") for modalities of communication (MoC) between project participants (PPs) in clean development mechanism (CDM) projects and the CDM EB, and a standardised MoC form (the "MoC Form").1 This Legal Alert gives an overview of the main elements of the Procedures and highlights certain insolvency issues related to the MoC.

Introduction

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On 14 March 2023, a new law (Tijdelijke wet transparantie turboliquidatie) was adopted by the Dutch legislator. This law introduces a filing obligation of the managing board that will apply to shortened liquidation procedures applied as per 15 November 2023. Under this obligation, the managing board of the company must file certain (financial) documents with the Dutch trade register and inform creditors of the company of this filing.

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In yet another major restructuring in the Netherlands, the Dutch Court confirmed a restructuring plan under the Dutch Act on Court Confirmation of a Private Restructuring Plan (WHOA). The public restructuring of the Steinhoff Group (Steinhoff) was approved by the Amsterdam Court on 21 June 2023, only seven days after the confirmation hearing.

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