Vanaf 1 mei 2018 ziet het Belgische insolventielandschap er anders uit ingevolge de inwerkingtreding van het gloednieuwe insolventierecht (Boek XX in het Wetboek Economisch Recht). In navolging van de elektronische aangifte van schuldvordering sinds 1 april 2017, dient vanaf 1 mei 2018 ook de aangifte van faillissement elektronisch te gebeuren in het Centraal Register Solvabiliteit (Regsol).

L’entrée en vigueur de la toute nouvelle loi sur l’insolvabilité modifiera le paysage du droit de l’insolvabilité belge dès à partir du 1er mai 2018. Le 1er avril 2017 entrait en vigueur le système de déclaration de créance par voie électronique. A présent, entrera en vigueur, dès ce 1er mai 2018, la demande de faillite par voie électronique dans le Registre Central de la Solvabilité.

Municipal restructurings pose many challenges distinct from those encountered in a typical corporate bankruptcy. One challenge frequently encountered in the context of a municipal restructuring is how to restructure municipal bonds insured by a monoline insurance company.

Introduction

The Bottom Line

In the August 2017 issue of Debt Dialogue, we discussed the recent decision by Judge Martin Glenn of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York with respect to claims brought by the litigation trust (the Trust) established in the bankruptcy case of LyondellBasell Industries AF S.C.A. (LBI) against Access Industries, Inc.

The Bottom Line

Sellers and suppliers of movable assets can deal with problems caused by poorly-paying customers through a retention of title clause. This clause makes it contractually possible to stipulate that ownership of a certain good does not transfer until the third party acquirer has paid the full price.

It is interesting to note that the new Law on Pledges has created a better legal framework for the retention of title clause, putting any creditor - assuming a retention of title clause has been included - in a stronger position.

In another decision affecting Chapter 11 cases, U.S. Bank National Association v. Village at Lakeridge, --- S. Ct. ---, 2018 WL 1143822 (2018), on March 5, 2018, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision, authored by Justice Kagan, affirming the Ninth Circuit’s decision to review the Bankruptcy Court’s determination of a mixed question of fact and law for clear error, rather than de novo.

On February 27, 2018, the Supreme Court handed down a unanimous opinion, authored by Justice Sotomayor, resolving a Circuit split over the interpretation of Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code, the “safe harbor” provision that shields specified types of payments “made by or to (or for the benefit of)” a financial institution from avoidance on fraudulent transfer grounds.