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Debt exchanges have long been utilized by distressed companies to address liquidity concerns and to take advantage of beneficial market conditions. A company saddled with burdensome debt obligations, for example, may seek to exchange existing notes for new notes with the same outstanding principal but with borrower-favorable terms, like delayed payment or extended maturation dates (a "Face Value Exchange"). Or the company might seek to exchange existing notes for new notes with a lower face amount, motivated by discounted trading values for the existing notes (a "Fair Value Exchange").

One of the primary fights underlying assumption of an unexpired lease or executory contract has long been over whether any debtor breaches under the agreement are “curable.” Before the 2005 amendments to the Bankruptcy Code, courts were split over whether historic nonmonetary breaches (such as a failure to maintain cash reserves or prescribed hours of operation) undermined a debtor’s ability to assume the lease or contract.

On Friday, the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner closed Thunder Bank, headquartered in Sylvan Grove, Kansas, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank. As receiver, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Bennington State Bank, headquartered in Salina, Kansas, to assume all of the deposits of Thunder Bank.

On Friday, the Nevada Financial Institutions Division closed SouthwestUSA Bank, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank. As receiver, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Plaza Bank, headquartered in Irvine, California, to assume all of the deposits of SouthwestUSA Bank.

On Friday, the Georgia Department of Banking & Finance closed Crescent Bank and Trust Company, headquartered in Jasper, Georgia, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank.

On Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed Williamsburg First National Bank, headquartered in Kingstree, South Carolina, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank.

On Friday, the Office of the Minnesota Department of Commerce closed Community Security Bank, headquartered in New Prague, Minnesota, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank. As receiver, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Roundbank, headquartered in Waseca, Minnesota, to assume all of the deposits of Community Security Bank.

On Friday, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation closed Sterling Bank, headquartered in Lantana, Florida, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank. As receiver, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with IBERIABANK, headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, to assume all of the deposits of Sterling Bank.

On Friday, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services closed Home Valley Bank, headquartered in Cave Junction, Oregon, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank.

On Friday, American International Group, Inc. (AIG) released its results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009. AIG reported a Q4 net loss of $8.9 billion, bringing 2009’s total net losses to $10.9 billion.