The following provides guidance on managing private equity-owned portfolio companies in distress:

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt businesses and markets, and companies begin to look to bankruptcy courts for relief from the resulting liquidity and operational distress, the issue of creditor and shareholder “blocking rights” seems likely to become an important topic as parties attempt to protect their investments.

In KSK Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd (in liquidation) [2019] NSWSC 1463 a liquidator sought directions from the Supreme Court of New South Wales under section 90-15(1) of the Insolvency Practice Schedule (Corporations) at Schedule 2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

A company’s intellectual property rights^[1] are some of its most valuable and most enduring assets. They are also often the most encumbered, or the most enhanced, by contract.

Goulston & Storrs bankruptcy attorney Doug Rosner recently collaborated with Thomson Reuters to create a three-part video series regarding alternative solutions to the financial problems of distressed companies. This summary highlights the advantages and disadvantages of out-of-court restructuring as an alternative to Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization (part one of the series).

Key Notes:

While the full extent of COVID-19’s impact on the economy remains to be seen, it will likely create significant restructuring activity for companies already experiencing financial distress and otherwise healthy companies distressed by the pandemic. We have already seen an increase in chapter 11 filings, and more will follow.

The uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has rocked the global economy, and companies of all types and sizes are feeling the impacts. In recent weeks, certain high-profile retailers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Some airlines are expected to enter bankruptcy as well, and even farmers are feeling the pinch. Overall, data suggest that bankruptcies will increase almost 25 percent from last year.

A recent Bankruptcy Court decision, In re Firestar Diamond, Inc., out of the Southern District of New York (“SDNY”) by Bankruptcy Judge Sean H.

The current market environment, created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, has few parallels. During periods of economic uncertainty, many issuers and borrowers face significant and difficult issues in managing their capital structure. The purpose of this guide is to provide issuers and borrowers with practical guidance to proactively manage these issues and control their capital structure. In particular, this guide: