Business Bankruptcy
6 Common Mistakes in Drafting Collateral Descriptions
Avoid These Costly Errors in Collateral Descriptions Drafting can easily go awry. When collateral descriptions are drafted errantly in security agreements and financing statements, secured creditors may not get what they bargained for, and expensive disputes can bloom. A valid security agreement executed by the owner of the collateral and the secured party creates […]
Convertible Securities: Appealing in this Uncertain Market
The market has changed a lot since our last look at convertible bonds about six months ago. Not only has the stock market been shaken by the potential fall-out from the Covid-19 stay-at-home orders, but also interest rates have fallen sharply. The market has shown resilience, but risks clearly remain as the economic recovery may […]
Bank Stocks on Sale
With the sharp slowdown in the economy, bank stocks have declined significantly, and, unlike the broad S&P 500 Index, have not recovered much of their lost value. Year-to-date, our universe of 180 bank stocks has declined 31%, compared to the 6% decline in the broad market. Driving the weak shares are concerns over higher credit […]
90 Second Lesson: What is the Difference Between Recharacterization and Equitable Subordination?
Discerning Similar Methods to Lower the Order of Priority of Creditors’ Claims [Editors’ Note: This is part of our irregular series in which we answer readers’ questions. If you have a question, submit it to [email protected] and we will try to answer it.] Question: Jeff P. from Los Angeles asked us to explain the […]
Best Practices for UCC-3 Terminations and Continuations
Careless UCC-3 Termination Filings Have Costly Consequences Lenders and borrowers are focused on potential workouts and refinancing of loans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, UCC-3 terminations and continuations will be thrust into the spotlight. Under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”), a UCC-3 is defined as a filing used to make or […]
Kuney’s Corner – Giving Secured Creditor Substitute Collateral in a Chapter 11 Cramdown
Pacifying a Hostile Lender with a Motion to Substitute Collateral Can a Chapter 11 debtor confirm a plan that gives a hostile secured creditor a lien on an orange as a substitute, in essence, for the secured creditor’s lien on an apple that the debtor wants to keep and use?1 Yes, a motion to […]
PPP Loans for Chapter 11 Debtors? Maybe…But You Have Other Options
The SBA’s Views, Court Rulings and Options for Your Company You need to restructure your debt and/or deal as soon as possible with assertive creditors. You want to preserve your company, and you would benefit (or already have benefited) from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds as a bridge. What do you do? Can you risk […]
Corporate Attorney-Client Privilege is in the Hands of the Bankruptcy Trustee
When is Your Company’s Attorney-Client Communication No Longer a Secret? Imagine if every secret and strategy that you had ever shared with your attorney were laid open for the world to see. A trustee in a business bankruptcy case may well have the power to review, publish, and wield all of the debtor’s attorney-client […]
90 Second Lesson: Receivership vs Bankruptcy
The Benefits and Downsides of the Receivership Process [Editors’ Note: this is part of our irregular series in which we answer readers’ questions. If you have a question, submit it to [email protected] and we will try to answer it.] QUESTION: Do secured creditors benefit more from a debtor’s bankruptcy or federal court receivership? ANSWER: […]
Can You Challenge a Section 363 Sale? Bid Now or Forever Hold Your Peace
How Natural Chem Holdings Tried to Beat the Wind in a 363 Sale Appeal You would like to buy wind turbines in a lease-to-own scenario—that is, you would like to take possession of certain items and pay over time or in a lump-sum at some point in the future. You prefer this mode to […]