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ABI Commission Report: highlights of proposed Chapter 11 reforms

The American Bankruptcy Institute (“ABI”) Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11 issued today a 400-page report (the “Report”) recommending changes to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (“Code”). The Report is the result of a two-year effort by 150 practitioner-ABI members.[1] Without considering the likelihood of Congressional passage in the near term, we will evaluate each significant proposed change separately in subsequent Alerts over the next several weeks.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
Fifth Circuit narrows meaning of ‘value’ in good faith lender’s fraudulent transfer defense

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, on Oct. 16, 2014, held that a “good faith transferee” in a fraudulent transfer suit “is entitled” to keep what it received “only to the extent” it gave “value.” Williams v. FDIC (In re Positive Health Management), 2014 WL 5293705, at *8 (5th Cir. Oct. 16, 2014). Reversing in part the district and bankruptcy courts, the Fifth Circuit narrowed their holding that the debtor had “received reasonably equivalent value in exchange for the debtor’s cash transfers.” Id. at *1-2.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, Debtor, Good faith, Fifth Circuit
Second Circuit holds that equitable mootness doctrine applies to appeals from orders confirming liquidating chapter 11 plans

On October 29, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the decision of the District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissing as equitably moot appeals filed by three individuals (the “Appellants”) in the chapter 11 case of In re BGI Inc. f/k/a Borders Group, Inc.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Liquidation, Second Circuit, United States bankruptcy court
District of Delaware attributes value to Debtor’s credit facility in denying a fraudulent transfer claim based on unreasonably small capital despite existing basis for lenders to terminate and subsequent termination of the facility

On September 30, 2014, in In re SemCrude, L.P.,1 the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, affirming the Bankruptcy Court’s decision, held that direct partnership distributions by debtor SemGroup, L.P. (the “Debtor”) and indirect partnership distributions by its general partner, SemGroup G.P., L.L.C., to certain limited and general partners could not be avoided as constructive fraudulent transfers.

USA, Delaware, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Line of credit
Second Circuit holds that a sale by a chapter 15 debtor in a foreign main proceeding of a claim against an obligor located in the U.S. must be reviewed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code

On September 26, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, overturning decisions by the Bankruptcy Court and the District Court for the Southern District of New York, held that the Bankruptcy Court was required to review under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code the transfer of a claim by a chapter 15 debtor with a recognized foreign main proceeding pending in the British Virgin Islands (the “BVI”).1     In a case under chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code in which a foreign main proceeding has been recognized, section 1520(a)(2) of the Bankr

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Debtor, Title 11 of the US Code, Second Circuit, United States bankruptcy court
New York bankruptcy judge disallows payment of make-whole premium

On Aug. 26, 2014, Judge Robert Drain of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York denied the payment of a $200 million make-whole premium. See Corrected and Modified Bench Ruling on Confirmation of Debtors’ Joint Chapter Plan of Reorganization for Momentive Performance Materials Inc. and its Affiliated Debtors, In re MPM Silicones, LLC, No. 14-22503 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Sept. 9, 2014) [D.I.

USA, New York, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, Bankruptcy
S.D.N.Y. Bankruptcy Court denies claim for make-whole premium and allows cram down of debtors’ chapter 11 plan paying secured creditors below-market interest rates on replacement notes

On August 26, 2014, the Honorable Robert D. Drain, Bankruptcy Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, issued several bench rulings (the “Bench Rulings”) in connection with confirmation of a plan of reorganization in the chapter 11 cases of MPM Silicones, LLC, et al.

USA, New York, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Debtor, United States bankruptcy court
Chapter 11 plan provision allowing individual members of official committee to be reimbursed for professional fees and expenses held invalid, but committee members may be awarded reimbursement for professional fees and expenses incurred in making a

Substantial Contribution to the Case

USA, New York, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Eighth Circuit holds that trademark license included in substantially performed integrated asset purchase transaction is not an executory contract subject to rejection

On June 6, 2014, in Lewis Brothers Bakeries Incorporated and Chicago Baking Company v.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Trademarks, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Eighth Circuit
The Supreme Court clarifies the role of bankruptcy courts in Stern v. Marshall-type proceedings, but leaves consent issue for another day

Background

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Tortious interference, United States bankruptcy court