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Fifth Circuit Rules on the "Solvent-Debtor Exception" and Make-Whole Premiums

On October 14, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a long-awaited ruling on whether Ultra Petroleum Corp.

USA, Company & Commercial, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Jones Day, US Congress, United States bankruptcy court, Fifth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit Rules on the "Solvent-Debtor Exception" and Make-Whole Premiums

In Short

The Situation: Courts have disagreed over whether a make-whole premium triggered by a borrower's bankruptcy filing must be disallowed as unmatured interest. They have also disputed whether the "solvent-debtor exception" requiring the payment of postpetition interest to unimpaired unsecured creditors of a solvent debtor survived the enactment of the Bankruptcy Code. Finally, courts have split on what rate of postpetition interest unimpaired unsecured creditors of a solvent debtor are entitled to receive.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Jones Day, US Congress, Fifth Circuit
Divided Ninth Circuit Rules That Unimpaired Unsecured Creditors of a Solvent Debtor May Be Entitled to Post-Petition Interest at Contract or State Default Rates

In Short

The Situation: Bankruptcy courts have split on what rate of post-petition interest unimpaired creditors of a solvent debtor are entitled to receive. Bankruptcy courts have variously ruled that such creditors were entitled to the contractual rate of interest, interest at the federal judgment rate (about the rate on a one-year Treasury bill) as of the bankruptcy petition date, or an equitable rate. Another possibility is that no interest is payable at all.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Jones Day, Supreme Court of the United States, Ninth Circuit
Exit lenders liable for conversion where distributions contravene credit agreement

Prudential Insurance Company of America v. WestLB AG, 961 N.Y.S. 2d 360 (2012)

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USA, Banking, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Reed Smith LLP, Credit (finance), Collateral (finance)
Seventh Circuit rules rejection of executory trademark license does not terminate the license, creates a split of authority

Sunbeam Products, Inc. v. Chicago American Manufacturing, LLC, 686 F.3d 372 (7th Cir. 2012)

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In a matter of first impression in the Seventh Circuit, the court held that a chapter 7 trustee’s rejection of an executory contract did not terminate the trademark license contained therein.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Trademarks, Reed Smith LLP, Bankruptcy, Seventh Circuit
Subtenant retains possessory rights under section 365(h) despite explicit free and clear section 363(f) sale

In re Zota Petroleums, LLC, 482 B.R. 154 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2012)

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USA, Virginia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Real Estate, Reed Smith LLP
Determining whether a chapter 11 plan is unconfirmable without a confirmation hearing

In re American Capital Equipment, LLC, 688 F.3d 145 (3d Cir. 2012)

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USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Reed Smith LLP, Bankruptcy, Discovery, Due process, Leveraged buyout, Secured creditor, United States bankruptcy court, Third Circuit
Substantive consolidation order not automatically retroactive absent language to the contrary

Giuliano v. Shorenstein Company, LLC (In re Sunset Aviation, Inc.), Adv. No. 11- 50965, Bankr. No. 09-10778, 2011 WL 4002429 (Bankr. D. Del. Sept. 7, 2011)  

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USA, Delaware, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Reed Smith LLP, Bankruptcy, Debtor, Limited liability company, Ex post facto law, United States bankruptcy court, Sixth Circuit, US District Court for District of Delaware
Cross-affiliate netting provision in ISDA swap agreement is not enforceable against the debtor

In re Lehman Brothers Inc., Bankr. Case No. 08-01420 (JMP) (SIPA), 2011 WL 4553015 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Oct. 4, 2011)  

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USA, Derivatives, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Reed Smith LLP, Bankruptcy, Debtor, Debt, UBS, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Lehman Brothers, Title 11 of the US Code, United States bankruptcy court
Split in courts continues—private stock purchase payments not protected by Section 546 safe harbor

Geltzer v. Mooney (In re MacMenamin’s Grill Ltd.), Adv. Case. No. 09-8266, Bankr. Case No. 08-23660, 2011 WL 1549056 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. Apr. 21, 2011)

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USA, New York, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Reed Smith LLP, Bankruptcy, Shareholder, Debtor, Security (finance), Fraud, Safe harbor (law), Writ, Leveraged buyout, Systemic risk, Secured loan, Title 11 of the US Code, Trustee, United States bankruptcy court