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Cross Border Restructuring and the Global Village. Universalism in 2013 Louise Verrill Brown Rudnick LLP. The Four Gateways. Council Regulation ECI 346/2000 (EC Insolvency Regulation) – Reciprocal in EU The Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 (“CBIR”) - Incremental
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Cross Border Restructuring and the Global Village Universalism in 2013 Louise Verrill Brown Rudnick LLP
The Four Gateways • Council Regulation ECI 346/2000 (EC Insolvency Regulation) – Reciprocal in EU • The Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 (“CBIR”) - Incremental Introduced the 1997 UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency • Very similar to the EC Regulation • In the US, enshrined as Chapter 15 • Non-mutual recognition • Section 426 Insolvency Act 1986 – Designated Territories • Universalism = insolvency proceedings should apply worldwide • Comity = uniformity between proceedings in different jurisdictions • Common Law – Emasculated Universality • In personam judgments capable of enforcement if: • presence overseas • claim or counterclaim • submission to jurisdiction
Rubin v Eurofinance [2009] EWHC 2129 (CH) • Claims in Chapter 11 proceedings against our clients regarding the benefits they received • Adversary proceedings against our clients. Chose not to appear • Summary and default judgment – 22/7/08 • Receivers sought to enforce the judgment in England • UK Court of First Instance • Recognition sought under CBIR as foreign main proceedings and as foreign representatives and judgment to be enforced (CPR 70 and 73) • High Court (Nicholas Strauss QC) recognised receivers but refused to enforce judgment • No enforcement under CBIR
Court of Appeal • Court of Appeal allowed enforcement under the common law: • Ordinary rules do not apply to bankruptcy • Bankruptcy proceedings include 238/239 equivalent • NY orders part of bankruptcy proceedings • Collective enforcement • Bankruptcy should be unitary and universal • No enforcement under Article 27 CBIR but maximum assistance Supreme Court • Enforcement under rules of private international law, not common law • No special status • Any changes to be made by legislators • CBIR do not provide for enforcement • Nor does s426
Contrast with:- • Homburg Invest Inc “H11” • Canadian real estate company – over 100 Canadian and Dutch subsidiaries • Assets in Canada, US, Germany, Netherlands and Latvia • In excess of Euro1billion in debt • Euro400million in bonds mainly held by Dutch pensioners • Netherlands not signatory to UNCITRAL • Global economic crisis leaves Homburg Invest Inc unable to service debt • Canadian Court has recently approved a plan produced in the Canadian CCAA process to restructure HII implementation in US and the Netherlands • Following extensive advocacy and marketing of the plan it has been agreed by all the creditors in the Netherlands and Canada
Louise Verrill Partner Tel +44 (0)20 7851 6072 lverrill@brownrudnick.com