Nortel Networks (“Nortel”) brought a motion seeking approval of the sale of various Nortel assets to Nokia Siemens (“Asset Sale Agreement”), and for approval of a Sale Agreement and Bidding Procedures, advanced by Nortel for the purpose of conducting a “stalking horse” bidding process in respect of its Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) and Long-Term Evolution Access (“LTE”) assets. As of the date of the motion, Nortel had yet to propose a formal plan of compromise or arrangement.
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.
In Re: Nortel Networks Corp. the Ontario Superior Court of Justice considered an application for court approval of the Bidding Procedures pertaining to the sale of Nortel’s “Layer 4-7” business, as well as approval of a “Stalking Horse” bidding process.
Prior to filing for protection under the CCAA, Nortel decided that the Layer 4-7 business should be sold. Shortly after filing, Nortel agreed to enter into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Radware for the purchase of the Layer 4-7 business (the “Purchase Agreement”).
In Re Intertan Canada Ltd. (2009), WL 181688 (Ont. S.C.J. [Commercial]), 2009 CarswellOnt 324 [Re Intertan], Morawetz J denied the approval of an amended DIP financing agreement under CCAA proceedings which was granted under the Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States.
In Stomp Pork Farm Ltd., Re, (“Stomp Park Farm”) the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal partially overturned orders granted from the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench which approved debtor in possession financing (“DIP Financing”).
In this case, the debtor owed its first lender $20.5 million, secured against the debtor’s current assets. The lender had priority over the current assets to the extent of $18 million and thereafter shared priority with the debtor’s second lender.
In Kerr Interior Systems Ltd., the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta discussed a number of issues which arose as a result of two creditors registering builders liens against a third party’s property in Saskatchewan.
Pursuant to an Order in Council dated July 4, 2008, July 7, 2008 was established as the date that certain of the provisions of S.C. 2005, c. 47 (the "Insolvency Reform Act 2005") and S.C. 2007, c. 36 (the "Insolvency Reform Act 2007") came into force. The Wage Earner Protection Program Act (the "WEPPA") as well as certain of the amendments to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (the "BIA") made by the Insolvency Reform Act 2005 and the Insolvency Reform Act 2007 are, as a result, now in force.
On April 7, 2011, in Indalex Limited (Re), 2011 ONCA 265 (Re Indalex), the Ontario Court of Appeal (the Court) held that in certain circumstances a pension plan wind-up deficit should be paid in priority to claims of secured creditors, including amounts outstanding under a court-approved debtor-in-possession facility (the DIP Facility).
In the recent decision of Century Services Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2010 SCC 60, the Supreme Court of Canada has, for the first time, interpreted key provisions of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”).
The judgment of the Court, which was pronounced December 16, 2010, overrules appellate authority from Ontario and British Columbia that previously conferred a priority for unremitted GST on the Crown in CCAA proceedings, and endorses the broad discretionary power of a CCAA court.
InterTAN Canada Ltd (“InterTAN”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of US based Circuit City Store, Inc. (“Circuit City”), a consumer electronics retailer. In Canada, InterTAN operates retail stores under the trade name “The Source by Circuit City”. Prior to Circuit City's filing under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, InterTAN was a borrower under a syndicated credit facility between Circuit City, certain U.S. affiliates, InterTAN, Bank of America NA, as agent, and certain other loan parties (the “Secured Credit Facility”).