On October 13, 2009, Arclin Canada Ltd./Arclin Canada Ltee. (“Arclin”), who is restructuring under CCAA proceedings and whose American affiliates are restructuring under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, sought the approval of key employee retention program (“KERP”) agreements with its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, and sought sealing orders with respect of the agreements. The KERP was approved by Justice Hoy. The following are some noteworthy points from this case.
The Government of Dubai issued a press release on 25 November 2009 confirming that, through its Supreme Fiscal Committee (SFC), it has authorised the Dubai Financial Support Fund (DFSF) to spearhead the restructuring of Dubai World with immediate effect. Aidan Birkett, Managing Director of Corporate Finance at Deloitte, has been appointed as Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) to "oversee the restructuring process and ensure the continuity of Dubai World's operation".
The SFO has announced that managing director and shareholder of Alta Gas Plc, Peter Brian Bradley, has been ordered to pay £1 million compensation to victims following confiscation proceedings on 26 January 2010. In 2001, Alta Gas Plc went into administrative receivership which resulted in the receivers of the company discovering a sophisticated system of false accounts that enhanced the profitability of the company.
On February 10th, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit addressed, in one opinion, two separate appeals arising from a company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At the outset, the Court held that a severance payment to the firm's former CEO was a fraudulent transfer. The former CEO was an insider, since he was still CEO when the severance agreement was signed, even though he was not employed when he received the actual payment. The Court held further that the company did not receive equivalent value for the severance payment.
On September 30th, the Sixth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the bankruptcy trustee's lawsuit against Deloitte & Touche, the debtor's former auditor. The trustee alleged that Deloitte negligently failed to uncover and report unsound related-party transactions by the debtor's sole shareholder and CEO, and aided and abetted the CEO's breach of his fiduciary duty to the debtor. Affirming dismissal, the Court held the trustee failed to allege reliance upon Deloitte's audits and the statute of limitations bars the aiding and abetting claim.
On March 22, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a decision that could significantly impact the rights of secured creditors to credit bid in connection with Chapter 11 asset sales under a plan of reorganization.