As settlement in relation to Ukraine’s successful sovereign exchange offers is expected today, we explain why this sovereign deal is groundbreaking.
Background: The Exchange Offers
On 22 September 2015, Ukraine launched Exchange Offers in relation to the following (Old Notes):
В течение последних двух лет Украина пережила существенные политические и экономические потрясения, что очень повлияло на финансовую и банковскую системы нашего государства. Как следствие на сегодняшний день процедура ликвидации применена к 65 банкам. Каждый должник должен понимать, что введение временной администрации или процедуры ликвидации банка не является спасением от взыскания с него задолженности, ведь банки, в отношении которых применяются данные процедуры, любым способом будут стараться вернуть денежные средства, за счет которых осуществлялось кредитование.
Insolvency and Restructuring International Vol 10 No 1 March 2016 23 Karyn Heavenrich Alexander is an associate in King & Spalding’s financial restructuring practice. Karyn’s practice focuses on the areas of bankruptcy law and corporate restructuring matters, with a particular focus on international insolvency proceedings. individuals, non-individuals and foreign proceedings. The new bankruptcy petition incorporates many of the ancillary filings into the petition itself.
Historically, shareholders and management have not been liable for the debts of the public companies they run or own in Ukraine.
On 29 December 2012, pursuant to the order of the Commercial Court of the Kyiv Region, the bankruptcy proceedings in respect of Aerosvit were initiated based on the application of the debtor. Pursuant to the said order the court introduced the procedure of administration of debtor's assets, appointed the administrator of assets and imposed moratorium on satisfaction of creditors' claims.
On 19 January 2013, a new edition of the Law of Ukraine "On rehabilitation of debtor or its bankruptcy" (the “Bankruptcy Law”) came into force. The Bankruptcy Law provides for the possibility of a pre-bankruptcy rehabilitation of a debtor which may be introduced by the court on the debtor’s or the creditor’s request. During the pre-bankruptcy rehabilitation of the debtor bankruptcy proceedings cannot be commenced in court, and the court may establish a moratorium on the satisfaction of the creditors’ claims.
On 18 January 2013 the Law of Ukraine on Introducing Changes to the Law on Restoring Debtor Solvency or Declaring Bankruptcy (the “New Bankruptcy Law”) became effective. The new Bankruptcy Law introduces a number of important changes to the bankruptcy procedure in Ukraine.
Yesterday, 22 September, Ukraine successfully launched exchange offers in relation to 14 sovereign and sovereign-guaranteed Eurobonds with outstanding principal amounts of c.US$18 billion. This follows less than a month after Ukraine and its ad hoc creditors’ committee (“AHC”) agreed Indicative Heads of Terms, following months of intense negotiations.
On 22 September 2011, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine No. 3795-VI “On Amendments to Several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding the Regulation of Legal Relations between Creditors and Receivers of Financial Services” (the “Law”). The Law, among other changes, introduced amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Restoring Debtor’s Solvency or Recognising it Bankrupt”, No. 2343-XII, dated 14 May 1992, as amended (the “Bankruptcy Law”).