On May 14, 2021, Gateway Kensington LLC, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-22274).

Landlords of New Look stores have failed in their challenge to a CVA which wrote off rent arrears and imposed turnover rents on hundreds of stores.

Like so many high street fashion retailers New Look was already in a precarious position before the pandemic hit. When its turnover was reduced to nil overnight it projected it would run out of cash without help.

The Insolvency Service published its quarterly insolvency statistics for the period January to March 2021 (Q1 2021) on 30 April 2021. By way of comparison, see our previous update on the Q4 2020 statistics here.

The published statistics for the first quarter of 2021 continue the downward trend seen in the previous 12 month period, with company insolvencies falling overall by 22% from the previous quarter.

Almost a year has now passed since the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (CIGA) first entered force on 26 June 2020. According to the Explanatory Notes that accompanied CIGA, “the overarching objective of [the Act] is to provide businesses with the flexibility and breathing space they need to continue trading during this difficult time”. To this end, CIGA introduces a number of permanent and temporary amendments to the UK’s insolvency landscape which are aimed at ensuring businesses can maximise their chances of survival against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

On April 26, 2021, Royal Blue Realty Holdings, Inc., a New York-based real estate company, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-10802). The company reports $1 million to $10 million in assets and $10 million to $50 million in liabilities.

On April 25, 2021, Secure Home Holdings LLC and various affiliates, which provide home security services and smart home automation to residential and small business customers, filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10745). The company reports $100 million to $500 million in both assets liabilities.

On April 24, 2021, New York-based beachwear retailer L&L Wings, Inc., which operates 26 stores in the Carolinas, Florida, Texas and California, filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-10795).

On April 24, 2021, Augustus Intelligence Inc., a New York based AI systems developer, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10744). The company reports $10 million to $50 million in assets and $1 million to $10 million in liabilities.

Late on April 20, 2021, Texas-based WB Supply LLC, one of the largest privately held pipe and supply companies in the United States, filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10729). The company reports $10 million to $50 million in both assets and liabilities.

Late on April 19, 2021, Wilmington, Del.-based non-profit Connections Community Support Programs, Inc. (“CCSP”), which provides psychiatric/behavioral health services, substance use disorder treatment, housing and veterans’ services, intellectual disabilities services and operation support services, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10723).