In the wake of the economic stress created by COVID-19, we have seen increased opportunities for buyers looking to acquire distressed companies and assets in Canada. Increased deal flow in industry sectors that have been hit hardest by COVID-19, including retail, hospitality, travel, cannabis, and oil and gas has occurred, and with the passage of time other sectors will be affected.

As lenders prepare for a world with an increased risk of borrower failures, liquidations, and bankruptcies, many have begun focusing on requiring that borrowers form special purpose entities (“SPEs”) to mitigate against those risks. In this publication, we explore how recent case law has viewed the formation and use of SPEs and which structures have been more effective than others.

Current State of the Law Regarding Bankruptcy Remote Entities

As interest rates remain relatively low and financial liquidity levels remain high, investors with a higher risk appetite will continue to find increased opportunities with distressed assets. In Brazil, these have already reinvigorated the trend of M&As in Q3 of 2020.

A revigorated trend

INTRODUCTION

1) Premise.

Italian Law Decree no. 83 of 27 June 2015, converted with amendments by Italian Law no. 132 of 6 August 2015, introduced an important amendment within the context of transfers or sales carried out while composition with creditors proceedings is pending, by adding art. 163 bis to the Italian Bankruptcy Law (“BL”), titled "Competing Offers". The rationale of such measure, made clear by the legislator itself in the report accompanying the conversion bill, is twofold:

(i) maximize the recovery prospects of the composition creditors;

Executive summary

On a UK company’s insolvency, the UK tax authority (HMRC) will become a preferential creditor in respect of certain unpaid taxes (Crown Preference) with effect from 1 December 2020. Despite lobbying against the move (including in light of the COVID-19 pandemic), the UK government has persisted with the change, perhaps in an attempt to shore up its tax take.

The reform in context

The Golden Globe Award-winning Netflix series is not the only ‘Crown’ returning prior to Christmas 2020. HMRC’s preferential creditor status is also being restored on 1 December 2020.

Recent M&A deals the teams have worked on involving insolvent corporates have highlighted the challenges which exist around the transfer of customer lists and databases, which are often a significant asset for the buyer.

1) Premessa.

Il D.L. 27 giugno 2015 n. 83, convertito con modificazioni dalla Legge 6 agosto 2015, n. 132, ha introdotto un importante correttivo in materia di atti dismissivi compiuti in costanza di concordato preventivo, mediante l’inserimento dell’art. 163 bis L.F. (rubricato “Offerte concorrenti”). La ratio dell’intervento normativo, dichiarata dallo stesso legislatore nella relazione d’accompagnamento al disegno di legge di conversione, è duplice:

(i) massimizzare la prospettiva di recovery dei creditori concordatari;

1. What is distressed M&A?