On September 25, 2008 in Washington, D.C., the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) held an all-day workshop, entitled “Consumer Protection and the Debt Settlement Industry,” to explore growth in the for-profit debt settlement industry and to examine its impact on consumers and businesses.
This alert describes issues to consider when a derivatives dealer counterparty becomes insolvent.We address below issues involving termination of a master agreement, close-out netting of underlying trades and collateral. Even though this alert focuses on the bankruptcy of a dealer, many of the issues would also arise in connection with the bankruptcy of most non-dealer counterparties.
1. Existence of an Event of Default and Termination
a. Existence of an Event of Default
In the wake of recent bankruptcy filings by several prominent financial institutions, there’s a growing interest in changing standard credit documentation to address the risks of defaulting lenders and nonperforming administrative agents. Here are credit agreement provisions that financial institutions, acting as swingline lenders and letter of credit issuers, can require to protect themselves against the risk of a defaulting lender.
Yesterday, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) announced that its Trade Information Warehouse (TIW) successfully completed on October 21st settlement of the over-the-counter credit default swaps (CDS) related to the credit event of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
Yesterday, the Big Three U.S. auto chief executives submitted restructuring plans to the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee, in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s November 21st request calling on the auto executives to “submit a credible restructuring plan that results in a viable industry, with quality jobs, and economic opportunity for the 21st century while protecting taxpayer investments” by December 2nd.
Sellers should be proactive in taking steps to protect themselves from a distressed buyer’s non-payment.
In the current economic downturn, sellers are dealing with many formerly good customers whose financial health is deteriorating. To protect their interests, sellers should assess their rights under applicable contracts and law and develop a strategy to minimize their exposure.
Step 1 – Assess the Parties’ Contractual Rights
As a result of the meltdown of the financial markets, lenders are severely constricting new credit facilities and refusing to renew expiring facilities. The Bankruptcy Code's chapter 11 provides a powerful mechanism for an otherwise viable business to restructure and extend its outstanding debt and in many cases, reduce interest rates on loan facilities.
Conventional wisdom was that bankruptcy and insolvency were not major considerations when receiving outsourcing services from reputable, credit-worthy suppliers.
Last year, the Ninth Circuit BAP determined that the Bankruptcy Code does not permit a secured creditor to credit bid its debt, and purchase estate property free and clear of non-consenting junior liens, outside a plan of reorganization. Uncertainty resulting from the decision in Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc. v. Nancy Knupfer (In re PW, LLC), 391 B.R. 25 (9th Cir. B.A.P. 2008) may chill bidding and asset sales in the Ninth Circuit.
In a case that has broad implications for trustees and taxing authorities embroiled in preference avoidance actions, the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri weighed in on the parameters of a trustee’s ability to avoid preferential sales and use tax payments under section 547 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Overdue Tax Payments