Both the First Energy Solutions and PG&E bankruptcies have seen proceedings regarding power purchase and similar agreements (PPAs) that raise this question.
Background
Contracts often contain provisions that enable a party to terminate or modify the contract based on the other party's bankruptcy filing, insolvency or deteriorating financial condition. In general, the Bankruptcy Code renders these types of provisions (sometimes referred to as "ipso facto" clauses) ineffective. Specifically, under section 365(e)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code (emphasis added):
On February 17, 2016, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (collectively, the “agencies”) jointly proposed a rule to supplement the statutory provisions of Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act (the “Orderly Liquidation Authority” or “OLA”) that govern the orderly liquidation of a “covered broker or dealer”—i.e., an SEC-registered broker or dealer that is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) and for which a systemic risk determination to trigger the application of the OLA has been made.
On Friday, the California Department of Financial Institutions closed Sonoma Valley Bank, headquartered in Sonoma, California, and appointed the FDIC as receiver.
On Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed Community National Bank at Bartow [http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/release/2010-101.htm], headquartered in Bartow, Florida, and Independent National Bank, headquartered in Ocala, Florida, and appointed the FDIC as receiver.
On Friday, the California Department of Financial Institutions closedButte Community Bank, headquartered in Chico, California, and Pacific State Bank, headquartered in Stockton, California, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the two banks.
On Friday, the Office of Thrift Supervision closed Imperial Savings and Loan Association, headquartered in Martinsville, Virginia, and appointed the FDIC as receiver.
Friday, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking closed Lincoln Park Savings Bank, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.
Friday, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking closed Wheatland Bank, headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.
Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed Amcore Bank, National Association, headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.
Friday, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking closed Peotone Bank and Trust Company, headquartered in Peotone, Illinois, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.