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A Reminder That a 9019 Motion Is Not a Slam Dunk: Bankruptcy Court Denies 9019 Motion After Determining That Approving Certain Findings Required By Settlement Would Amount to Inappropriate Advisory Opinion

Introduction

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, Bankruptcy
The Aftermath of a Complicated Breakup: Third Circuit Holds Stalking Horse Bidder in Terminated Transaction May Assert Potential Administrative Expense Claim Notwithstanding Disallowance of Its Termination Fee

Executive Summary

On March 15, 2021, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals (the “Third Circuit”) held that a stalking horse bidder may assert an administrative expense claim pursuant to section 503(b)(1)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code for costs incurred in attempting to close on an unsuccessful transaction, even when the stalking horse bidder is not entitled to a breakup or termination fee.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, Due diligence
Officers of Selling Companies May Escape Fiduciary Duty Liability But May Be Required to Return Change of Control Payments if Company is Insolvent Post-Closing (Nine West Part 2)

While there has been much fuss over the recent ruling by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in In re Nine West LBO Securities Litigation1 due to its potential ramifications for director liability, as we explored in Part I of our series on this case here, court watchers have paid less attention to the court’s treatment of officer liability and the interes

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, Private equity, Due diligence
English High Court provides clarity for assignees of insolvency claims

In Cage Consultants Limited v Iqbal & Iqbal [2020] EWHC 2917 (Ch), the liquidators of Totalbrand Limited (the company) assigned certain claims – including for transactions at an undervalue and preferences – to litigation funders Cage Consultants Limited (CCL) under s.246ZD Insolvency Act 1986. The company was subsequently dissolved.

A former director of the company and another individual alleged to have benefitted from the transactions tried to strike out the claims. They did this on the basis that:

United Kingdom, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Taylor Wessing
Lenders - remember to obtain all necessary consents before taking enforcement action

In Arlington Infrastructure Ltd (In administration) and another v Woolrych and others [2020] EWHC 3123 (Ch), the Court considered the meaning of a deed of priority entered into between the senior and junior secured creditors of Arlington Infrastructure Limited (AIL). The junior creditors (but not the senior creditor) also held debentures over AIL's subsidiary companies.

United Kingdom, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Taylor Wessing, Insolvency Act 1986 (UK)
Attention Buyers of Assets in Bankruptcy: How To Be A Good Faith Purchaser and Ensure Any Post-Closing Challenges Will Be Dismissed as Statutorily Moot Under Section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code

Introduction

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP
Warning to Directors of Selling Companies: Breach of Fiduciary Duty Liability May Exist for Failure to Investigate and Ensure Solvency of Company Post-Closing and Propriety and Effect of All Related Transactions (But You Can Protect Yourself)

A recent ruling from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York sent shock waves through the legal and financial community, with some shouting that this “could be a gamestopper for the private equity business.”1 Although the ruling in In re Nine West LBO Securities Litigation2 breaks new ground and arguably narrows the protections available to directors under the normally-broad business judgment rule, there are clear lessons others can take from this saga to prevent a similar fate.

USA, Company & Commercial, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, Private equity, Due diligence
Yeah, We Can Take It - Texas Bankruptcy Court Defines the Scope of Its Post-Confirmation Jurisdiction

Executive Summary

A recent decision from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, In re Care Ctrs., LLC, No. 18-33967, 2020 Bankr. LEXIS 3205 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. Nov. 12, 2020), examined (1) the scope of bankruptcy court subject-matter jurisdiction for post-confirmation actions filed in state court and removed to bankruptcy court; and (2) when the court must or should abstain and remand a proceeding back to the court where the action was originally brought.

USA, Texas, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP
Eastern District of Virginia Bankruptcy Court Finds Landlord’s Lender Has No Right to Enforce Landlord’s Lease with Bankrupt Retailer

OVERVIEW

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Real Estate, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, Coronavirus
Reintroduction of UK tax authority preferential claim - how could it affect you?

In a widely criticised move, the UK tax authority, HMRC, has become a second ranking preferential creditor regarding certain taxes in insolvency proceedings commenced on or after 1 December 2020.

This means that in the new insolvency waterfall, HMRC ranks behind the claims of holders of fixed charges and first ranking preferential creditors (most notably employees) but ahead of floating charge holders' claims and unsecured creditors.

United Kingdom, Insolvency & Restructuring, Tax, Taylor Wessing, Coronavirus, HM Revenue and Customs (UK)