Businesses worldwide are feeling the pressure of historic inflation and rising interest rates. UK insolvencies have reached their highest level since 2009, while numbers are also increasing in Australia, Canada and China.
This article examines the latest restructuring and insolvency trends – including zombie companies, landmark court decisions, and new legislation in Canada and the EU.
‘Zombie companies’ could lead to a wave of insolvencies
Peter Ferrer, Harneys
This is an extract from the 2024 edition of GRR's the Americas Restructuring Review. The whole publication is available here.
This is an Insight article, written by a selected partner as part of GRR's co-published content. Read more on Insight
In summary
It is sometimes the case that a person who owes you money dies before they have repaid the same to you. In this article, we explore what happens to the debt and the options available to creditors who are faced with a deceased debtor.
What happens to debt after death?
The deceased’s liability to repay a debt does not cease upon his or her death. Instead, liability for the same transfers to the deceased’s estate, providing that their estate is not insolvent.
What happens to debt if the estate is insolvent
Gregg Galardi, Matthew Czyzyk, Natalie Blanc and Emily Ma, Ropes & Gray
This is an extract from the 2024 edition of GRR's the Americas Restructuring Review. The whole publication is available here.
Richard J Cooper, Lisa M Schweitzer and Richard C Minott, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
This is an extract from the 2024 edition of GRR's the Americas Restructuring Review. The whole publication is available here.
Fabio Guzmán-Saladín and Pamela Benzán Arbaje, Guzmán Ariza
This is an extract from the 2024 edition of GRR's the Americas Restructuring Review. The whole publication is available here.
John Wasty, John Riihiluoma, Lalita Vaswani and James Batten, Appleby
This is an extract from the 2024 edition of GRR's the Americas Restructuring Review. The whole publication is available here.
In summary
Elizabeth McColm, Brian Bolin and Mitchell Mengden, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
This is an extract from the 2024 edition of GRR's the Americas Restructuring Review. The whole publication is available here.
Monitoring Winding up Petitions
While not an everyday occurrence, a company being issued with a winding up petition is an eventuality that all providers of finance, whether on a secured or unsecured basis, will prepare for.
From a contractual perspective, facility agreements will include specific monitoring information covenants as part of the core relationship housekeeping, supported by a hard backstop of event of default triggers, with rights for debt acceleration, and (if applicable) security enforcement operating in tandem from that point.
Gianfranco Lotito and Andrés Ignacio Lafuente Quiroz, Cuatrecasas
This is an extract from the 2024 edition of GRR's the Americas Restructuring Review. The whole publication is available here.