Chapter 11 is expensive and not always the right tool, particularly for a restructuring of a company with a broken balance sheet, as compared to a business with a broken business model. We have seen a significant uptick in...more
In most chapter 11 cases, existing first lien lenders provide post-petition financing to preserve collateral value and maximize recovery. In some situations, a stressed borrower may threaten to pursue a hostile chapter 11...more
3/24/2025
/ Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Chapter 11 ,
Collateral ,
Creditors ,
Debt ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Debtors ,
Debtors-in-Possession ,
Lenders ,
Loans ,
Restructuring
The appointment of an independent director is a powerful tool for private credit lenders. The appointment is designed to introduce a voice of neutrality and fairness into the board’s decision-making process with the hope and...more
2/28/2025
/ Bankruptcy Court ,
Board of Directors ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Contract Terms ,
Corporate Governance ,
Corporate Restructuring ,
Creditors ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Lenders ,
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
In many ways, 2024 continued existing trends in private credit: modest levels of M&A activity, competition among direct lenders to deploy capital, higher-for-longer interest rates, persistent inflation, elevated default...more
1/29/2025
/ Appeals ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Chapter 11 ,
Corporate Restructuring ,
Creditors ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Debtors ,
Lenders ,
Liability ,
Popular ,
Private Equity ,
Reorganizations
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the “Fifth Circuit”) ruled on December 31, 2024 that Serta Simmons Bedding’s (“SSB”) 2020 uptier exchange included a transaction that, contrary to the assertions of...more
1/3/2025
/ Appellate Courts ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Borrowers ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Credit Agreements ,
Declaratory Judgments ,
Lenders ,
Liens ,
Liquidity ,
Loan Agreements ,
Loan Repayment Issues ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Texas
After nearly a decade of historically low interest rates, many borrowers will now have to grapple with near-term maturities between 2025 and 2028 on approximately $4.9 trillion of corporate debt.
While some borrowers may...more
10/22/2024
/ Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Business Operations ,
Chapter 11 ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Compliance ,
Concession Agreements ,
Debtors ,
Equitable Subordination ,
Fraudulent Transfers ,
Interest Rates ,
Lenders ,
Negotiations ,
Restructuring
While global inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates dominated macroeconomic headlines over the last year, middle-market private credit restructurings witnessed three notable trends.
First, these credits remained...more
1/26/2024
/ Automatic Stay ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Chapter 11 ,
Debt ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Divestiture ,
High-Yield Markets ,
Interest Rates ,
Lenders ,
Middle Market ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Price Inflation
Restructurings defy a one-size fits all approach because every deal is unique and different tools are required to solve different problems. At one end of the restructuring continuum is the so-called “amend and extend,” where...more
Once again, we reflect on the prior year for restructuring trends impacting private credit lenders. Last year it was all about “liability management”—the latest trend in which the limits of sponsor-favorable loan documents...more
1/18/2023
/ Bankruptcy Court ,
Capital Raising ,
Chapter 11 ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Delaware ,
Interest Rates ,
Lenders ,
Liquidity ,
Loans ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
NY Supreme Court ,
Restructuring ,
Supply Chain ,
Supply Shortages ,
Ukraine ,
Vaccinations
A common yet contentious liability management strategy is an “uptier” transaction, where lenders holding a majority of loans or notes under a financing agreement seek to elevate or “roll-up” the priority of their debt above...more
It seems inevitable there will be an uptick in private credit defaults as economic conditions further deteriorate. What steps are you taking in terms of portfolio management to prepare for the next cycle with respect to...more
10/18/2022
/ Article 9 ,
Budgets ,
Change of Control ,
Chapter 11 ,
D&O Insurance ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Equity Transactions ,
Exclusions ,
Foreclosure ,
Insolvency ,
Lenders ,
Loans ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
This past year was marked by extraordinary deal activity. Record breaking M&A activity drove record breaking private credit activity. Private equity M&A activity was at a substantial high, with over 8,500 deals worth $2.1...more
2/8/2022
/ Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Chapter 11 ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Creditors ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Debtors ,
First-Lien ,
Insolvency ,
Lenders ,
Make-Whole Premium ,
Purdue Pharma ,
Reorganizations
The primary investment thesis of a private credit lender is simple — get the loan repaid at maturity. Private credit lenders do not make loans as a means to acquire their borrower’s business. There are circumstances, however,...more
8/30/2021
/ 363 Sales ,
Article 9 ,
Bankruptcy Plans ,
Borrowers ,
Collateral ,
Credit Bids ,
Debt Collection ,
Debt Forgiveness ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Lenders ,
Loans
For many sponsor-backed and other highly leveraged private companies, the business impact of COVID-19 is just beginning to apply pressure to financial covenant compliance. As borrowers and private credit (or other) lenders...more
7/15/2020
/ Balance Sheets ,
Borrowers ,
Capital Markets ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Governance ,
Debt Restructuring ,
Investors ,
Lenders ,
Preferred Stock Financing ,
Private Equity ,
Third Party Funding