The Powerhouse CVA, which sought to strip away guarantees provided by the parent company to landlords of Powerhouse, has been struck down as unfairly prejudicial by the High Court. However, certain aspects of the judgement remain unclear and could be subject to future appeal…

BACKGROUND TO THE POWERHOUSE CVA

Powerhouse (an electrical retailer) proposed a CVA on 1 February 2006 with the intention of closing 35 of its stores (the Closed Premises).

In the ongoing bankruptcy action involving the Congoleum Corporation (Congoleum), the bankruptcy court refused to approve a settlement and policy buyback between Congoleum and one of its insurers, ruling that the lack of creditor support for the settlement and the lack of evidence regarding the volume and type of claims covered by the settlement precluded the court's ability to approve the settlement. In re Congoleum Corporation, No. 03-51524 (Bankr. D.N.J. May 11, 2004).

In an April 24, 2007 order, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware granted certain insurers' motion for leave to pursue a coverage action against the debtor, Federal-Mogul Global, Inc., in New York state court regarding the debtor's asbestos liability. In re Federal-Mogul Global, Inc., No. 01-10578 (Bankr. D. Del. Apr. 24, 2007). The insurer had filed a declaratory judgment action in New York state court against the debtor. In response, the debtor filed an identical action in New Jersey state court.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey rejected the pre-packaged bankruptcy plan presented by the debtors and asbestos claims representatives. In re Congoleum Corp., No. 03-51524, 2007 WL 328694 (Bankr. D.N.J. Jan. 26, 2007). In addition, the court rejected a plan proposed by a group of insurers. In re Congoleum Corp., No. 03-51524, 2007 WL 328700 (Bankr. D.N.J. Feb. 1, 2007).

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts has denied injunctive relief requested by two bankruptcy trustees seeking to stay the prosecution and settlement of shareholder actions proceeding against various former officers and directors of a bankrupt corporation. In re Enivid, 2007 WL 806627 (Bankr. D. Mass. Mar. 16, 2007).

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has denied approval of a settlement between Adelphia and its D&O insurers pursuant to which the insurers would have bought back their interests in the relevant policies issued to Adelphia for $32.5 million "with claims of others to policy proceeds...attaching to the proceeds of the sale."

Coping with the Insolvent Business Partner

The German Government is required by the European Commission ("Commission") to seek repayment of €5.2 million in aid from the bicycle group, Biria. The aid comprised two guarantees and “silent participation” (investor received remuneration but no shares) by a public investment company and the German Land of Saxony to subsidiaries within the Biria group. Although Germany argued that the “silent participation” was provided upon market conditions, the Commission did not accept that it met the private market investor test.