Recent emergency motions from Modell’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (“Modell’s) and Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (“Pier 1”) to put their chapter 11 cases on ice may signal a growing trend. As the economic consequences of efforts to contain and respond to COVID-19 infections render deal-making difficult or impossible, what were the best-laid plans a few weeks ago often no longer make sense.
To assist businesses dealing with the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, on March 28, 2020, the UK government followed in the footsteps of countries including Spain, Germany and Australia and announced certain changes to UK insolvency law.
This article summarises the key changes the UK government is proposing to existing insolvency laws, and considers the key restructuring tools available to assist companies during this unprecedented and challenging time.
Wrongful Trading Suspension
Barely a month after Bankruptcy Code amendments providing a cheaper, more efficient path to chapter 11 relief for small businesses took effect under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (“SBRA”), Congress has nearly tripled the debt-eligibility threshold from roughly $2.7 to $7.5 million in response to economic fallout from the COVID-19 shutdown.
A Texas bankruptcy court recently ruled that dedication clauses in gas-gathering agreements run with the land and cannot be rejected by a debtor. That decision, In re Alta Mesa Resources, Inc., affirms an industrywide practice that faced an uncertain future following the ruling in In re Sabine Oil & Gas Corp. from the Southern District of New York, which was upheld by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018.
Saam Golshani and Alexis Hojabr, White & Case LLP
This is an extract from the first edition of GRR's The Art of the Pre-Pack. The whole publication is available here.
Christopher Harlowe and Christopher Levers, Mourant
This is an extract from the first edition of GRR's The Art of the Pre-Pack. The whole publication is available here.
The Cayman Islands has established itself as the jurisdiction of choice for financially sophisticated businesses such as hedge funds, private equity funds, special purpose vehicles and trusts that use offshore vehicles.
David Baxter and Brian O’Malley, A&L Goodbody
This is an extract from the first edition of GRR's The Art of the Pre-Pack. The whole publication is available here.
Introduction
Pre-packs in Ireland probably are not as common as they should be. In theory, a pre-pack is broadly available in each of our insolvency procedures: liquidation, examinership and receivership.
Dominic Emmett and Hannah Cooper, Gilbert + Tobin
This is an extract from the first edition of GRR's The Art of the Pre-Pack. The whole publication is available here.
Dennis F Dunne, Dennis C O'Donnell and Nelly Almeida, Milbank LLP
This is an extract from the first edition of GRR's The Art of the Pre-Pack. The whole publication is available here.
Introduction
Jacqueline Ingram and Damilola Odetola, Milbank LLP
This is an extract from the first edition of GRR's The Art of the Pre-Pack. The whole publication is available here.