The last several years have seen bankruptcy filings from prominent retail chains such as Borders, Circuit City, Blockbuster, Movie Gallery and Ritz Camera. Many of these cases have resulted in liquidation. For commercial landlords, retail bankruptcy cases present a number of potentially damaging issues, including nonpayment of rent, assignment of the lease to an unworthy tenant, vacant space in an otherwise popular location and going-out-of business sales.
The absolute priority rule of Section 1129(b) of the Bankruptcy Code is a fundamental creditor protection in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. In general terms, the rule provides that if a class of unsecured creditors rejects a debtor’s reorganization plan and is not paid in full, junior creditors and equity interestholders may not receive or retain any property under the plan. The rule thus implements the general state-law principle that creditors are entitled to payment before shareholders, unless creditors agree to a different result.
On March 21st, Blue Springs Ford ("Blue Springs") filed a chapter 11 petition for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Based in Blue Springs, Missouri, Blue Springs has operated as an authorized Ford dealership since 1978. Like most dealerships, the company sells and services Ford vehicles and provides general maintenance and repair services. See the Declaration of Blues Springs' President in Support of First Day Motions (the "Declaration" or "Decl.") at *2.
Introduction
On March 28, 2012, the Minnesota Legislature gave final passage to HF 382, a comprehensive revision of Minnesota statutes governing receiverships and assignments for the benefit of creditors (ABCs) in the state. Following signature by the governor (which is expected), the new statutes will take effect on August 1, 2012. Sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar Association and its Business Law and Real Property Sections, the new statutes are the product of more than two years of work by a committee of Minnesota lawyers and receivers.
Receiverships
Introduction
Introduction
On March 5, 2012, Pemco World Air Services ("Pemco"), filed chapter 11 petitions for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. According to the Declaration of Pemco's CFO (the "Declaration"), Pemco describes itself as "an industry leader in maintenance, repair and overhaul for wide and narrow body aircraft and regional jets from around the world." Decl. at *2. In addition to maintenance and repair, Pemco also is one of the leading providers of narrow body aircraft cargo conversions. Id.
Code Section 409A is, in part, a response to perceived deferred compensation abuses at companies like Enron and WorldCom. The story of Code Section 409A’s six month delay provision is inextricably tied to the Enron and WorldCom bankruptcies.
The New Jersey Appellate Division recently ruled in Vollers Excavating and Construction, Inc. v. Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, Docket No.