Many businesses are—or soon will be—unable to meet their obligations. Not all businesses in distress are unsuccessful; sometimes, as in the economic circumstances arising from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the governmental directives tailored to address the related public health issues, even successful businesses must confront closures and steep declines in demand that could not have been anticipated, and may find it necessary or desirable to restructure their existing debt obligations.

A recent decision by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York¹ found that a UCC-3 termination statement filed on behalf of a secured creditor was not effective because it lacked the proper authorization.