It is not uncommon for firms to use standard language in their account agreements that creates liens on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Two recent federal court decisions, however, suggest that granting such a lien on an IRA may constitute a prohibited transaction that causes these accounts to lose their tax exempt status, which in turn could potentially make IRAs subject to third-party creditor claims. These two decisions could have far-reaching implications for any firm that has used or still uses similar lien-creating language in their account agreements.
Taking the lead from its recent decision in In re River Road Hotel Partners,1 in In re River East Plaza, LLC,2 the Seventh Circuit held that a debtor cannot avoid the lien retention prong of Section 1129(b)(2)(A)(i)3 by transferring an undersecured creditor’s lien to substitute collateral as indubitable equivalence pursuant to Section 1129(b)(2)(A)(iii).
最高人民法院关于适用《中华人民共和国企业破产法》若干问题的规定（一）(09/09/2011)
Today (20th December) the Court of Appeal has clarified how TUPE applies when a business is sold after administration proceedings are instituted. It has decided that employees transfer to the new owner of the business, and are protected from transfer-related dismissals, thereby putting to rest more than two years of legal uncertainty following conflicting decisions from the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT).
Overview of Insolvency Rules and Restructuring Procedures Pursuant to Italian Bankruptcy Law
Clients active in commodities markets (e.g. large consumers of copper and other metals) may be affected by the collapse of MF Global which was recently placed into Chapter 11 process in the US and into Administration in the UK. MFGlobal was an active clearing agent on numerous metal exchanges including the London Metal Exchange.
The Court of Appeal has confirmed that where the Pensions Regulator (Regulator) exercises its anti-avoidance powers against a company during insolvency, the liability ranks as an expense in the insolvency process. The 14 October 2011 judgment, in a case involving the Nortel and Lehman Brothers groups, upheld the High Court's landmark decision of last year.
In re Caribbean Medical Testing Center, Inc. (Bankr. D. Puerto Rico) Case no. 11-06124
In re Hotel Airport Inc. (Bankr. D. Puerto Rico) Case no. 11-06620
In re GALP Highcross Limited Partnership (Bankr. S.D. Tex.) Case no. 11-36741
In re GALP Waters Limited Partnership (Bankr. S.D. Tex.) Case no. 11-36743