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Harmonisation of EU insolvency laws moving closer to a common approach
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On 13 December 2024, EU member states agreed on a ‘partial’ general approach to the harmonisation of insolvency law.

European Union, Insolvency & Restructuring, Freshfields, Insolvency, European Commission, European Parliament
Dutch Supreme Court provides clarity on aspects of the WHOA in Royal IHC judgment

On 25 October 2024, the Dutch Supreme Court ruled in a ground-breaking judgment in Royal IHC that a WHOA plan may change creditors’ and shareholders’ rights but cannot impose more onerous obligations. More specifically, the lenders cannot be compelled to provide new financing or to accept new terms and still provide new funds under previously committed credit facilities (i.e., undrawn commitments).

Netherlands, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
New York Bankruptcy Court: Lockup Provision in Proposed Settlement Agreement Violated Bankruptcy Code's Disclosure and Solicitation Requirements

A bedrock principle underlying chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code is that creditors, shareholders, and other stakeholders should be provided with adequate information to make an informed decision to either accept or reject a chapter 11 plan. For this reason, the Bankruptcy Code provides that any "solicitation" of votes for or against a plan must be preceded or accompanied by stakeholders' receipt of a "disclosure statement" approved by the bankruptcy court explaining the background of the case as well as the key provisions of the chapter 11 plan.

USA, New York, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Jones Day, Bankruptcy
Another successful Dutch Scheme: a milestone in the complex and multi-jurisdictional Steinhoff restructuring

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.

Netherlands, Insolvency & Restructuring, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
U.S. Supreme Court Rules Appellate Protection of Bankruptcy Property Sale Is Subject to Waiver and Estoppel

In Short

The Situation: The U.S. Supreme Court considered whether § 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code, which limits a party's ability to undo an asset transfer made to a good-faith purchaser in a bankruptcy case, is jurisdictional.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Jones Day, US Congress, Supreme Court of the United States
Default Under Assumed Lease Need Not Be Material or Ongoing to Trigger Landlord's Entitlement to Adequate Assurance of Future Performance

The ability of a bankruptcy trustee or chapter 11 debtor-in-possession ("DIP") to assume, assume and assign, or reject executory contracts and unexpired leases is an important tool designed to promote a "fresh start" for debtors and to maximize the value of the bankruptcy estate for the benefit of all stakeholders. However, the Bankruptcy Code establishes strict requirements for the assumption or assignment of contracts and leases.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Real Estate, Jones Day
The WHOA in 2023: The Restructuring Directive implemented in the Netherlands

The Dutch Act implementing the EU Directive on Insolvency, Restructuring and Second Chance (the Restructuring Directive) enters into force on 1 January 2023 and will amend the current Act on Court Confirmation of a Private Restructuring Plan (the WHOA) to some extent. Below we have set out some of the material changes as a result of the implementation.

A preventive restructuring framework and second chance

European Union, Netherlands, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Insolvency
Proposal for an EU directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of insolvency law

On 7 December 2022, the European Commission published itsproposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law (COM(2022) 702; 2022/0408 (COD)) (the Proposal). Readers may be aware that the EU has already legislated in the area of insolvency.

European Union, Insolvency & Restructuring, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, European Commission
In Brief: U.S. Supreme Court Declines Review of High-Profile Bankruptcy Rulings

Madoff

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Jones Day, Supreme Court of the United States, Second Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court Declines Review of Landmark Tribune Safe Harbor Ruling

On April 19, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of a landmark 2019 decision issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit regarding the applicability of the Bankruptcy Code's safe harbor for certain securities, commodity, or forward contract payments to prevent the avoidance in bankruptcy of $8.3 billion in payments made to the shareholders of Tribune Co. as part of its 2007 leveraged buyout ("LBO").

USA, Derivatives, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Jones Day, Safe harbor (law), Supreme Court of the United States, Second Circuit