Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled, “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Analysis of Options for Revising the Housing Enterprises’ Long-term Structures.” Last September, the Federal Housing Finance Agency placed the GSEs into conservatorship fearing that their deterioration would harm U.S. financial stability.
Earlier today, the FDIC was appointed as receiver of three banks: Southern Community Bank, Cooperative Bank and First National Bank of Anthony, bringing the total number of bank failures in the nation this year to 40.
Today, the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance closed The Community Bank, headquartered in Loganville, Georgia and the FDIC was appointed as receiver of The Community Bank.
In In re 1141 Realty Owner LLC, et al., No. 18-12341 (SMB), 2019 WL 1270818 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. March 18, 2019), Bankruptcy Judge Stuart M. Bernstein of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York recently reaffirmed that upon sufficient contractual language, "make whole" prepayment premiums are enforceable under New York law even after loan acceleration. The court emphasized that the language of the contract provided for such a result and that this was an enforceable liquidated damages clause under New York law.
Significant innovations have been introduced in Italy by Law Decree no. 83 of 27 June 2015 (entitledUrgent Measures on Insolvency, Civil and Procedural Matters and the Organization and Functioning of Judicial Commissioners (the "Decree").The Decree was converted by the Italian Parliament into statutory law no.132 enacted 6 August 2015 (the "Conversion Law").
The Second Circuit recently issued its decision on an appeal to the Momentive Performance Materials Inc. (“MPM”) bankruptcy case. Amongst other issues, the Court found that when determining the appropriate interest rate in a Chapter 11 cramdown, courts should consider market factors rather than strictly apply the Till formula. The Court’s decision will benefit secured creditors when a market rate is ascertainable, as they will no longer have to accept below-market take-back debt.
It has long been considered that lenders under a syndicated facility retain a right to seek to recover their portion of a loan directly following a payment default, typically by seeking the winding up of obligors. This is based on the several nature of the rights of finance parties which appears in clause 2 of the standard LMA terms.
Another step towards a lender-friendly environment, but the new form of pledge is being delayed
The Italian Parliament passed law No. 155 of 19 October 2017 to delegate the Government to reform the rules on insolvency and financial distress. This has been commented widely in the press and between commentantors, as it is expected to bring about significant developments (we have previously reported here).
Judge Megarry in Re Rolls Razor Limited1, aptly describes the necessity of insolvency enquiries:
PRA updates remuneration policy statement for PRA category 1 and 2 firm • PRA publishes CP24/17: Solvency II: internal models - modelling of the matching adjustment • PRA publishes CP23/17: Financial management and planning by insurers • Wholesale insurance brokers market study launched by the FCA • The FCA's future approach to consumers • PRA publishes CP22/17: Solvency II: Supervisory approval for the volatility adjustment • FCA publishes PS17/24: Handbook changes to reflect the new regulatory framework for insurance-linked securities - feedback to CP16/34 and CP17/3 and near-final rules