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Top Court Denies Leave to Appeal in Contested Application for a Reverse Vesting Order in Nemaska Restructuring Proceedings

The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has denied leave to appeal in the proceedings of Nemaska Lithium Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, Nemaska) under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). In November 2020, the Québec Court of Appeal (QCA) dismissed leave applications from the decision of the Superior Court of Québec (SCQ). In this decision, the SCQ granted, for the first time after a contested hearing, a “reverse vesting order” (RVO).

Canada, Quebec, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Debt restructuring, Supreme Court of Canada
Davies Restructuring Review 2021: Issue 1

Although 2020 may be behind us, the economic conditions and lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic still linger. With the emerging picture for Canada in 2021 looking to largely resemble that of 2020, many are wondering how long struggling businesses and their creditors can hold their breath while waiting for improved cash flows and customer demand.

Canada, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Coronavirus
SDNY Bankruptcy Court holds that the bankruptcy safe harbors do not preclude state-law fraudulent transfer actions brought by creditors

A bankruptcy judge in the Southern District of New York recently held that section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code does not prevent a debtor’s creditors from bringing state-law fraudulent conveyance actions that challenge a leveraged buyout of the debtor. Weisfelner v. Fund 1 (In re Lyondell Chem. Co.), No. 10-4609 (REG), --- B.R. ----, 2014 WL 118036 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Jan. 14, 2014).

USA, New York, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Alston & Bird LLP, Debtor, Leveraged buyout, Title 11 of the US Code, United States bankruptcy court, US District Court for the Southern District of New York
SDNY bankruptcy court upholds swap provision that modifies the method to calculate amounts owing upon the counterparty’s bankruptcy

TheLehman Brothers bankruptcy court has determined that the contractually specified methodology for conducting the liquidation of a swap agreement is protected by the safe harbor provisions of the bankruptcy, even if the selected methodology would be more favorable to the non-defaulting counterparty than the liquidation methodology that would apply absent the bankruptcy.See Michigan State Housing Dev. Auth. v. Lehman Bros. Deriv. Prods. Inc. (In re Lehman Bros. Holdings Inc.), No. 08-13555, ---B.R.

USA, New York, Derivatives, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Alston & Bird LLP, Bankruptcy, Swap (finance), Liquidation, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Lehman Brothers, United States bankruptcy court, US District Court for the Southern District of New York
Seventh Circuit adopts Second Circuit’s broad safe harbor definitions

The Seventh Circuit has explicitly adopted the Second Circuit’s broad interpretation of the terms “transfer” and “settlement payment” in the Bankruptcy Code’s safe harbor provisions. See Peterson v. Somers Dublin Ltd., No. 12-2463, --- F.3d ----, 2013 WL 4767495 (7th Cir. Sept.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Alston & Bird LLP, Federal Reporter, Enron, Second Circuit, Seventh Circuit
Ninth Circuit holds bankruptcy courts may recharacterize debt as equity

The Ninth Circuit has joined the majority of Circuit Courts in holding that bankruptcy courts have the authority to recharacterize alleged debts as equity. See Official Comm. of Unsecured Creds. v. Hancock Park Capital II, L.P. (In re Fitness Holdings Int’l, Inc.), No. 11-56677, --- F.3d ----, 2013 WL 1800000 (9th Cir. April 30, 2013). In doing so, the appellate court has explicitly reversed the contrary precedent of In re Pacific Express, Inc., 69 B.R. 112, 115 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 1986).

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Alston & Bird LLP, Debt, Ninth Circuit, United States bankruptcy court