On September 18, 2009, many long-awaited amendments to Canada's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) and Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) came into force. One of these new provisions will help protect intellectual property (IP) licensees in the event of the bankruptcy of their licensors.

The bankruptcy and insolvency reforms passed by Parliament in 2005 and 2007 will at last come into force today, September 18th, 2009. While a small initial round of reforms dealing with employee wages were implemented in July 2008, today marks a more radical shift in Canadian insolvency law as the remaining amendments come into effect. The reforms will be applicable to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings started on or after today’s date. Key elements of the reforms will include:

Interim Financing, Administrative and D&O Charges

In a recent decision released by Madam Justice Kent of the Alberta Court of Queens Bench (the “Court”) the Court declined to grant Octagon Properties Group Ltd. and certain affiliates (“Octagon” or the “Debtors”) relief pursuant to the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, R.S.C. 1985 c.C36 (“CCAA”).

On September 18, 2009, amendments (the "Amendments") to the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (the "CCAA") and Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (the "BIA") came into force.

The long-awaited amendments to Canada’s Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) and Companies’ Creditors Arrangements Act (CCAA) came into force on September 18, 2009.

Pursuant to amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Actand Companies' Creditors Arrangement Actthat took effect on September 18, 2009, an automatic stay of proceedings initiated on the filing of a proposal or notice of intention does not apply to regulatory bodies a

On September 18, 2009, long-awaited amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA”) and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”) take effect that will have a significant impact on commercial insolvencies in Canada. While many of these changes reflect existing practice and case law, some introduce more novel concepts not developed by courts, broadening what can be accomplished under the insolvency regime. This article comments on salient features of the new amendments.

In the recent case of Re Masonite International Inc., the Ontario Superior Court approved a plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”), notwithstanding that certain insolvent entities were involved. This was a short but complex cross-border restructuring which commenced and was principally completed prior to the recent Canadian insolvency legislation amendments coming into force.

If you are interested in submitting a bid to buy assets from a Court appointed receiver in Ontario and there is a Court approved sales process, then it is important to submit your bid as part of that Court approved sales process. A bid tendered outside the sales process time line and procedure (even if it turns out to be the highest bid) will generally end up being a losing bid.

On September 18, 2009, the Federal Government proclaimed into force the remaining amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) and theCompanies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). (A few provisions which are rendered moot, presumably deemed unnecessary or are amendments intended to coordinate the inter-governmental flow of information have not been proclaimed into force.) Some of the key changes to the BIA and the CCAA which we anticipate will considerably impact current Canadian insolvency practice are discussed below.