North America

Toronto-based Sampler has filed for bankruptcy, BetaKit reported. The digital product-sampling startup filed an assignment of bankruptcy on June 27 and held its first meeting of creditors on July 22, according to documents BetaKit obtained from Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy. At the date of filing, Sampler had total liabilities of $12.9 million and total assets of more than $300,000. Sampler matches packaged goods companies with consumers who receive packages of free samples by mail.

The ongoing struggles faced by Quebec-based Taiga Motors as it tries to become an electric snowmobile and personal watercraft pioneer hit another snag when the company filed for the equivalent of bankruptcy protection in Canada, Power Sports Business reported. The June 10, 2024, filing under the Canadian Companies Creditors Arrangement Act is similar to a chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the U.S., so the company is seeking protection from creditors while continuing its operations and operating under its court-appointed trustee, Deloitte Restructuring Inc.

A group of senior Biden administration officials is traveling to Shanghai this week for a round of high-level meetings intended to keep the economic relationship between the U.S. and China on stable footing amid mounting trade tensions between the two countries, the New York Times reported. The talks will take place on Thursday and Friday and are being convened through the U.S.-China Financial Working Group, which was created last year.

SG Investments, America, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of German-based manufacturer Dürkopp Adler (DA), has acquired ICON Aircraft assets — the result of a chapter 11 § 363 sale in ICON’s chapter 11 case filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, according to a Procopio press release. Procopio Restructuring and Bankruptcy Partner William Smelko represented DA in the transaction with the assistance of Procopio’s Asia Pacific team. Local Delaware Counsel Evan Miller of Saul, Ewing also assisted SG in acquiring the assets.

Mexican steelmaker Altos Hornos de México (Ahmsa) announced that it will enter bankruptcy after failing to reach an agreement with creditors, although it continues to work to attract investors to capitalize the company, Bnamericas reported. A second 90-day extension period to negotiate with creditors to end the bankruptcy proceedings came to an end on August 4 without sufficient agreements being hammered out on the sums owed by the firm.

In a story that reads like the script of a Hollywood film, one of the world’s most famous musicians, Canadian rapper Drake, emerged as the unlikely hero for an Italian club on the brink of financial collapse, World Soccer Talk reported. Venezia, a club steeped in history but battling financial turmoil, found an unexpected lifeline in Drake. His intervention was crucial in saving the club from bankruptcy and ensuring its survival. The Winged Lions, based in the iconic city of Venice, experienced a rollercoaster ride in recent years.

Glas Trust Company has filed the plea challenging the NCLAT order which quashed the bankruptcy proceedings against BYJU in the Supreme Court, LegalWorld.com reported. The matter will be heard on August 12. The NCLAT quashed the bankruptcy proceedings against BYJU after a settlement was reached between Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and BYJU, wherein the ed-tech agreed to pay off its dues of INR 158 Cr. Glass Trust opposed the settlement on the grounds on possibly jeopardizing of their financial interest while settling the BCCI debt.