Lending to a foreign company? If you choose English law to govern your facility documents and provide for the English court to have exclusive jurisdiction, an English scheme may be a viable means of restructuring the debt later, if the need arises.

Bill 68 – An Act to promote Ontario as open for business by amending or repealing
certain Acts (the “Open for Business Act”)1 received Royal Assent on October 25,
2010. It is an omnibus Act which contains more than 100 amendments to existing
legislation spread out across 10 ministries.

In a corporate reorganization under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (the “CCAA”), the design of appropriate classes of creditors can be central to the success of the restructuring initiative. The requisite “double majority” for a plan of arrangement to be approved, being a majority in number and two thirds by value of support from creditors, is required per class in order to be binding on that class.

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.

This legal update gives an overview of the key amendments to Federal Law No 127 - FZ "On insolvency (bankruptcy)" dated 26 October 2002 (the Insolvency Law) and Federal Law No 40 - FZ "On insolvency (bankruptcy) of credit organisations" dated 25 February 1999 (the Insolvency Law of Credit Organisations).

On 17 April 2009 the Russian State Duma adopted Federal Law No 73 - FZ - "On amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation" (the 73-FZ Law).

TrustIn Canada (Deputy Attorney General) v. Temple City Housing Inc., the Alberta Court of Appeal had to consider an application for leave to appeal a provision in a Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) (“CCAA”) order granting a DIP lender a charge in priority over the claims of CRA. The claims of CRA consisted of deemed trust claims arising under sections 224(1.2), 227(4) and 227(4.1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

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 Re Farmpure Seeds Inc. (2008 CarswellSask. 639) the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench considered the proposal of a debtor which was conditional upon the Court approving DIP financing and a super priority charge.

The debtor company had an active business, however became insolvent as a result of rapid expansion and some improvident contracts. The debtor could not meet its immediate obligations such as payroll, and the need to pay its suppliers upon receipt of their seed product. As a result, the debtor could not maintain its business without immediate interim financing.

In Re Temple City Housing Inc.; Minister of National Revenue v. Temple City Housing Inc. 2007 CarswellAlta 1806 (Alta. Q.B.), Temple City Housing Inc. (“Temple”) filed for protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”). The Order sought by Temple contemplated that a Debtor-In-Possession credit facility (“DIP Charge”) would be granted. Temple’s major creditor, Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”), opposed the granting of the DIP Charge, which would create a court ordered priority over the CRA deemed trust claim.

LEGEND

What follows are blackline documents outlining amendments to the BIA, CCAA and WEPP which have been passed by the government, but not yet proclaimed in force. It is hoped that these comparisons will serve as a useful tool in providing a comprehensive understanding of what the legislation will ultimately look like, when the proposed amendments are proclaimed in force.