Legal and Practical Issues for Restructuring and Insolvency in the UAE

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Legal and Practical Issues for Restructuring and Insolvency in the UAE INSOL WORLD The Quarterly Journal of INSOL Internationa l First Quarter 2010 US$25 Legal and Practical Issues for Restructuring and Insolvency in the UAE At the hearing, the Court may declare the company to By Tim Ross and be bankrupt, and it may appoint a monitor (trustee in Christian Adams bankruptcy) to assume control of the company’s assets for distribution amongst its approved creditors. Latham & Watkins Creditors are prohibited from pursuing claims against LLP the company after the declaration of bankruptcy, with Dubai, UAE the exception of secured creditors who may be permitted to enforce their security interests notwithstanding a declaration of bankruptcy. Composition schemes with creditors A company may avoid the consequences of a The Federal laws of the United Arab Emirates (the “ UAE ”) declaration of bankruptcy if it is able to negotiate a provide a framework for the reorganisation, liquidation and bankruptcy of insolvent companies and individuals in each composition or settlement with its creditors prior to any of the seven Emirates. The regime applicable to companies adjudication proceedings (a “ Protective Composition ”). remains largely untested as we have not yet seen a major corporate insolvency brought within court-supervised A Protective Composition is available to any company other proceedings in the UAE. Given the uncertainty surrounding than a joint-stock company or a company in liquidation the application of the regime, financially troubled entities in whose business activities or financial stability is disrupted in the UAE and their creditors have sought, and are likely to a manner which leads to a cessation of payment of debts. continue to seek, consensual reorganisations rather than Provided the company has traded continuously for one year, turn to formal legal proceedings. and has complied with all applicable laws, it may apply to the Court within 20 days of “cessation” for a Protective This article provides a summary of the UAE regime and Composition in order to prevent bankruptcy. Any highlights some of the practical issues typically encountered composition proposal must provide for at least 50 per cent in restructurings and insolvencies in the Emirates. of the company’s outstanding debts to be paid within three years from the date of acceptance of the composition. THE UAE INSOLVENCY REGIME Upon a Protective Composition filing, all bankruptcy Bankruptcy procedures proceedings, other claims and enforcement actions relating The UAE bankruptcy regime is set out in Book Five of the to the company are automatically stayed, and the Court Commercial Transaction Law (Federal Law No.18 of 1993) may make protective orders in order to preserve the (the “ Commercial Code ”). The bankruptcy laws and company’s assets until the application for composition is procedures apply to all ‘traders’, including any company. A determined. The Court will also appoint a composition ‘company’ for this purpose is one that undertakes a monitor (trustee) to supervise the composition procedure, commercial activity or takes one of the forms stipulated in although the company retains the right to manage its assets the UAE Companies Law. and business under the supervision of the monitor. With the approval of its shareholders, a company may voluntarily file for a declaration of bankruptcy if it is not able Creditor acceptance of composition schemes to pay its debts. A company is legally obliged to file for a A Protective Composition proposal must be accepted by a declaration of bankruptcy within 30 days of the date on simple majority of the creditors who attend the meeting which it first ceases to pay its debts. Any failure to do so and vote in respect of the proposals, provided that the results in ‘negligent bankruptcy’, a criminal offence under majority represents at least two thirds of the value of the the UAE Penal Code. debts of the company. Non-attending creditors are not counted in determining whether a simple majority has The creditors of the company, the public prosecutor and the been reached. The Commercial Code prohibits creditors Court acting under its own initiative may seek a declaration from voting their secured debts, unless a creditor agrees of bankruptcy in respect of a company. In order for a to forego their rights as secured creditor and join the class creditor petition to succeed, the Court must be satisfied that of unsecured creditors. the company has “ceased to pay its debts” as a result of financial difficulties. Where a company has issued bonds of an aggregate After a bankruptcy application is submitted, the Court must amount exceeding 20% of the amount of its total debt, the take steps to preserve the company’s assets. The Court will composition scheme requires approval by the general make investigations (with the assistance of experts, if assembly of bond holders in accordance with the procedure required) into the financial affairs of the company and the set out in the UAE Companies Law (if the composition is reasons for the failure to pay its debts. After concluding its inconsistent with the terms of the bonds) before the creditors’ investigations and resolving any preliminary disputes, the meeting is convened. This is likely to require a quorum of Court will fix a date for the bankruptcy hearing. The Court bondholders representing at least 75% of the value of the will order that all creditors must notify the Court of any debts bonds and the approval of bondholders representing at least prior to the hearing. 50% of the value of the bonds at the meeting. 15 INSOL World – First Quarter 2010 Voidable transactions PRACTICAL ISSUES ENCOUNTERED IN THE UAE Following a declaration of bankruptcy, certain transactions are capable of being set-aside or annulled by the Court: the Cultural stigma giving of gifts, the payment of debts prior to the repayment Historically, market participants in the UAE and the wider date, the payment of debts with something other than that MENA region have not recognised business failure as being agreed upon or the provision of security or guarantees for an integral element of a healthy business environment. a pre-existing debt. Any other transaction which is Ineffective insolvency systems appear to have promoted detrimental to the company’s combined creditors may be antagonism between debtors and frustrated creditors, set aside by the Court if the contracting party was aware at resulting in the perpetuation of a punitive culture towards the time of the transaction that the company had ceased to debtors. Debtors are extremely reluctant to consider pay its debts. insolvency procedures for fear of being labeled “criminal”, “fraudulent” or “dishonest”. The ‘suspect period’ for such transactions is set by the Whilst effective insolvency systems ought to punish those Court when it determines the date of cessation of guilty of behaving fraudulently, recklessly or dishonestly, payments. The Court should fix the date of cessation based there should also be scope for cases of genuine business on the facts, although it may not fix the date of cessation failure to be treated in a fair and respectful manner. earlier than two years prior to the declaration of bankruptcy. The combined creditors may seek to unwind any suspect Institutional capacity transaction, and the contracting party must return anything obtained from the bankrupt together with any profits and Court systems play a central role in any effective fees received in connection with the transaction. insolvency regime. It has been widely observed that the current Court system in the UAE would find it challenging to oversee complex bankruptcy and re-organization The laws relating to the dissolution and liquidation of proceedings, both in terms of the infrastructure of the companies discussed below do not specifically Courts and judicial capacity. provide for ‘suspect periods’ nor the cancellation of antecedent transactions. The Emirate of Dubai has taken steps to enhance its institutional capacity through, initially, the establishment of Company liquidation the DIFC Courts, and more recently the creation of The UAE Commercial Companies Law (Federal Law No.8 of dedicated tribunals for disputes that may arise in respect of 1984) sets out the circumstances in which a company may Dubai World or in respect of Islamic mortgage providers be dissolved. The most relevant trigger for this procedure is Amlak and Tamweel. a substantial loss of capital. Limited availability of Protective Compositions Where a joint stock company incurs losses amounting to A Protective Composition allows for the management of a 50%. or more of its capital, the board of directors of the financially distressed company to retain control of the company must convene an extraordinary general meeting company through composition proceedings. As such, it of its shareholders to consider the continuation or would appear to be an attractive alternative for dissolution of the company. In circumstances where the management seeking to turnaround a company with the board fails to do so or the general assembly fails to adopt a agreement of a majority of its creditors. However, joint stock resolution on the issue, any interested party may initiate companies are excluded entirely from the protective proceedings for the dissolution of the company. composition regime. In addition, a composition must provide for at least 50% of the debts of the company to be Similarly, the board of directors of a limited liability repaid within three years. In practice, these somewhat company which suffers losses amounting to 50% or more of arbitrary restrictions rule out Protective Composition as a its capital is obliged to put the dissolution of the company viable alternative in many cases. to the general assembly of its members for their consideration. Further, if a limited liability company sustains Director dilemmas in the absence of an objective losses amounting to 75 per cent or more of its capital, definition of “insolvency” or “cessation” members holding 25 per cent or more of the company’s The Commercial Code does not include an objective capital may resolve to dissolve the company.
Recommended publications
  • Unfinished Business in the International Dialogue on Debt
    CEPAL REVIEW 81 65 Unfinished business in the international dialogue on debt Barry Herman Chief, Policy Analysis and Development, From November 2001 to April 2003, the International Financing for Development Office, Monetary Fund grappled with a radical proposal, the Department of Economic Sovereign Debt Restructuring Mechanism, for handling the and Social Affairs, United Nations external debt of insolvent governments of developing and [email protected] transition economies. That proposal was rejected, but new “collective action clauses” that address some of the difficulties in restructuring bond debt are being introduced. In addition, IMF is developing a pragmatic and eclectic approach to assessing debt sustainability that can be useful to governments and creditors. However, many of the problems in restructuring sovereign debt remain and this paper suggests both specific reforms and modalities for considering them. DECEMBER 2003 66 CEPAL REVIEW 81 • DECEMBER 2003 I Introduction A new sense of calm descended on the international international financial markets and government issuers markets for emerging-economy debt in mid-2003. The alike have accepted them. They address certain concerns calm was seen in rising international market prices of about how the external bond debt of crisis countries is sovereign bonds of emerging economies in the first half restructured, although some market participants of the year and good sales of new bond issues, in discount the likelihood that those concerns were any particular those of Brazil and Mexico, as well as the more than theoretical difficulties. This paper will argue successful completion of Uruguay’s bond exchange that the changes that were adopted leave unresolved offer.
    [Show full text]
  • Miss Julie by August Strindberg
    MTC Education Teachers’ Notes 2016 Miss Julie by August Strindberg – PART A – 16 April – 21 May Southbank Theatre, The Sumner Notes prepared by Meg Upton 1 Teachers’ Notes for Miss Julie PART A – CONTEXTS AND CONVERSATIONS Theatre can be defined as a performative art form, culturally situated, ephemeral and temporary in nature, presented to an audience in a particular time, particular cultural context and in a particular location – Anthony Jackson (2007). Because theatre is an ephemeral art form – here in one moment, gone in the next – and contemporary theatre making has become more complex, Part A of the Miss Julie Teachers’ Notes offers teachers and students a rich and detailed introduction to the play in order to prepare for seeing the MTC production – possibly only once. Welcome to our new two-part Teachers’ Notes. In this first part of the resource we offer you ways to think about the world of the play, playwright, structure, theatrical styles, stagecraft, contexts – historical, cultural, social, philosophical, and political, characters, and previous productions. These are prompts only. We encourage you to read the play – the original translation in the first instance and then the new adaptation when it is available on the first day of rehearsal. Just before the production opens in April, Part B of the education resource will be available, providing images, interviews, and detailed analysis questions that relate to the Unit 3 performance analysis task. Why are you studying Miss Julie? The extract below from the Theatre Studies Study Design is a reminder of the Key Knowledge required and the Key Skills you need to demonstrate in your analysis of the play.
    [Show full text]
  • To Venue Retail Group AB's Creditors Notification on Company
    PIPER To Venue Retail Group AB’s creditors Notification on company reorganisation On 20 November, 2019 the Stockholm District Court granted Venue Retail Group AB’s application for reorganisation and appointed the undersigned, Mr. Erik Selander, attorney at law, as administrator. 1 hereby inform you about the decision pursuant to the provisions in Chapter 2, Section 13 of the Business Reorganisation Act (Swedish: Lag om ffiretagsrekonstruktion). As stated in the decision and in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 2, Sections 10 and 16 of the Business Reorganisation Act, the creditors’ meeting will be held before the Stockholm District Court, Scheelegatan 7, in Stockholm, at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019. Enciosed you will find a preliminary schedule of assets and liabilities and a preliminary reorganisation plan for the company. The plan, and any changes to the plan which may have occurred before the creditors’ meeting, will be reviewed at the creditors’ meeting. In the enclosed preliminary reorganisation plan, you will find the company’s last balance sheet, additional information about the company’s financial position, details about the reasons for the payment difficulties and information about how the business may be reorganised. Stockholm, A/1( 2/9 ERIK SELANDER Attorney at law ADVOKATFIRMA DLA PIPER SWEDEN KB [email protected] PER PRELIMINARY REORGANISATION PLAN CONCERNING VENUE RETAIL GROUP AB; CASE NUMBER Ä 15814-19 Background On 20 November, 2019 the Stockholm District Court granted Venue Retail Group AB’s (hereinafter the “Company”) application for a company reorganisation and appointed the undersigned as administrator. In accordance with Chapter 2, Section 12, Subsection 1 of the Business Reorganisation Act (Swedish: Lag om fl5retagsrekonstruktion) the administrator shall examine the debtor’s financial position and, in consultation with the debtor, prepare a plan which sets forth the manner in which the goals of the company reorganisation shall be achieved (hereinafter the “reorganisation plan”).
    [Show full text]
  • Russian Law Aspects of Insolvency
    Russian Law Aspects of Insolvency Further information If you would like further information on any aspect of the issues described in this note please contact a person mentioned below or the person with whom you usually deal. Contact Michael Pugh Partner T + 7 495 9333000 Direct +7 495 9336217 [email protected] Alexander Rymko Partner T + 7 495 9333000 Direct +7 495 9333009 [email protected] Eugene Perkunov Senior Associate T +7 495 9333000 Direct +7 495 9336214 [email protected] This note is written as a general guide only. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for specific legal advice. Contents 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. GENERAL COMMENTS 1 3. DETERMINATION OF THE CREDITORS' CLAIMS 2 4. SETTING ASIDE ANTECEDENT TRANSACTIONS 3 5. STAGES OF INSOLVENCY (BANKRUPTCY) CASES 3 6. SET-OFF 4 7. SUPERVISION 4 8. FINANCIAL REHABILITATION 4 9. EXTERNAL ADMINISTRATION 4 10. LIQUIDATION 5 11. AMICABLE ARRANGEMENTS 5 12. INSOLVENCY OF CREDIT INSTITUTIONS 6 1 Russian Law Aspects of Insolvency 1. INTRODUCTION In the case of a corporate debtor, the claim should be filed with the arbitrazh court, where such debtor is located. Under the Civil Code of the Russian Federation (the "Civil Code") A simple, clear and effective insolvency regime is a vital the location of the legal entity is determined by the state in element in attracting both domestic and foreign investment in which it is registered. If the debtor is an individual (natural a jurisdiction like Russia. To be effective, an insolvency person), the relevant arbitrazh court is the one in the state in regime has to balance the interests of various classes of which such debtor resides.
    [Show full text]
  • The Consumer-Creditors of Bankrupt, Abandoned, Defunct and of Zombie Companies’ (2019) 24(1) Tilburg Law Review Pp
    TILBURG LAW REVIEW Tibor Tajti(Thaythy), ‘Unprotected Consumers in the Digital Journal of International and European Law Age: The Consumer-creditors of Bankrupt, Abandoned, Defunct and of Zombie Companies’ (2019) 24(1) Tilburg Law Review pp. 3–26, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/tilr.139 RESEARCH ARTICLE Unprotected Consumers in the Digital Age: The Consumer-creditors of Bankrupt, Abandoned, Defunct and of Zombie Companies Tibor Tajti(Thaythy)* The aim of this article1 is to draw the attention of comparative scholars, researchers and policy-makers to the inferior position of consumer-creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, a topic that escaped attention during the development of financial protection of consumers in Europe. Consumers may become creditors if they prepay certain goods or services that remain undelivered following bankruptcy of a retailer or service-provider. The problem that results is that consumer-creditors are treated as unsecured creditors in bankruptcy law, who rank very low on the priority ladder and are doomed to recover only a small fraction of their claims, if anything at all. In order to fill the vacuum, the article attempts to map the real dimensions of the consumer-creditor problem first by outlining the spectrum of bankruptcy cases involving consumer-creditors and the threats to consumers inherent to abandoned and defunct companies that are usually left without assets creditors could collect upon. This includes case studies of major recent bankruptcies caused by appearance of new technologies (e.g., the collapse of
    [Show full text]
  • To the Creditors of Polarn O. Pyret Aktiebolag, 556235-7383 Box 16142 103 23 Stockholm
    To the creditors of Polarn O. Pyret Aktiebolag, 556235-7383 Box 16142 103 23 Stockholm REORGANISER’S REPORT AND COMPOSITION PROPOSAL By decision of the Stockholm District Court on March 23, 2020, Polarn O. Pyret Aktiebolag (the Company) has initiated corporate reorganisation. As reorganisers appointed by the district court, we hereby submit a reorganiser’s report and convey the following composi- tion proposal. 1 BACKGROUND 1.1 The Company has on March 23, 2020 submitted an application for reorganisation in accordance with the Company Reorganisation Act (Swedish: lagen om företags- rekonstruktion). The Stockholm District Court granted the application the same day and consequently the Company entered into company reorganisation. The lawyers Ola Sellert and Mats Emthén have been appointed as reorganisers. The court’s case number is Ä 4434-20. 1.2 A circular letter in accordance to Chapter 2, Section 13 of the Company Reorgan- isation Act with information concerning the reorganisation has been sent to all known creditors. A preliminary reorganisation plan has been submitted and pre- sented at a creditor's meeting before the district court on April 29, 2020. The com- pany has on June 22, 2020 requested that the district court extends the reorgani- sation by a further three months. The district court has not yet decided on the ex- tension, since the request is to be supplemented by this reorganisation report and composition proposal. However, there is no reason to believe that the Company would not be granted the requested extension. 1.3 The preliminary reorganisation plan describes how the Company conducts its op- erations during the reorganisation, regarding, among other things the prohibition on paying debts that arose before the reorganisation and how to handle advance payments to suppliers for continued deliveries.
    [Show full text]
  • Gorham Paper and Tissue, LLC, Et Al
    Case 20-12814 Doc 1 Filed 11/04/20 Page 1 of 20 Case 20-12814 Doc 1 Filed 11/04/20 Page 2 of 20 Case 20-12814 Doc 1 Filed 11/04/20 Page 3 of 20 Case 20-12814 Doc 1 Filed 11/04/20 Page 4 of 20 /s/ Christopher A. Ward 11/04/2020 Case 20-12814 Doc 1 Filed 11/04/20 Page 5 of 20 81$1,0286:5,77(1&216(172) 7+(0(0%(52)*25+$03$3(5$1'7,668(//& 7KH XQGHUVLJQHG FRQVWLWXWLQJ WKH VROH PHPEHU WKH ³0HPEHU´ RI *RUKDP 3DSHU DQG 7LVVXH//&D'HODZDUHOLPLWHGOLDELOLW\FRPSDQ\ WKH³&RPSDQ\´ DQGLQDFFRUGDQFHZLWKWKH /LPLWHG/LDELOLW\&RPSDQ\$JUHHPHQWRIWKH&RPSDQ\GDWHGRQRUDERXW0D\ DVPD\ EH DPHQGHG IURP WLPH WR WLPH KHUHE\ FRQVHQWV WR DSSURYHV DQG DGRSWV WKH IROORZLQJ UHVROXWLRQVE\XQDQLPRXVZULWWHQFRQVHQW :+(5($6 7KH 0HPEHU KDV UHYLHZHG DQG FRQVLGHUHG WKH ILQDQFLDO DQG RSHUDWLRQDO FRQGLWLRQRIWKH&RPSDQ\DQGLWVVXEVLGLDU\:KLWH0RXQWDLQ7LVVXH//& ³:KLWH0RXQWDLQ´ DQGWKH&RPSDQ\¶VDQG:KLWH0RXQWDLQ¶VEXVLQHVVRQ WKH GDWH KHUHRI LQFOXGLQJ WKH KLVWRULFDO SHUIRUPDQFH RI WKH &RPSDQ\ DQG :KLWH0RXQWDLQWKHDVVHWVRIWKH&RPSDQ\DQG:KLWH0RXQWDLQWKHFXUUHQW DQGORQJWHUPOLDELOLWLHVRIWKH&RPSDQ\DQG:KLWH0RXQWDLQWKHPDUNHWIRU WKH&RPSDQ\¶VDQG:KLWH0RXQWDLQ¶VDVVHWVFUHGLWPDUNHWFRQGLWLRQVDQG PDFURHFRQRPLF FRQGLWLRQV LPSDFWLQJ WKH &RPSDQ\ DQG :KLWH 0RXQWDLQ DQGKDVEHHQNHSWDSSULVHGRIWKHHIIRUWVWRPDUNHWDQGVHOOWKHEXVLQHVVHV RSHUDWHGE\WKH&RPSDQ\DQG:KLWH0RXQWDLQDQGIXUWKHU :+(5($6 7KH 0HPEHU KDV UHFHLYHG WKH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ RI %UDGOH\ 6FKHU WKH 0DQDJHURIWKH&RPSDQ\ ³6FKHU´ ZKRLVDQLQGHSHQGHQWSDUW\XQDIILOLDWHG ZLWKDQ\RIWKH&RPSDQ\¶VHTXLW\KROGHUVOHQGHUVRUWKHSURSRVHGSXUFKDVHU RIWKH&RPSDQ\¶VDQG:KLWH0RXQWDLQ¶VDVVHWVWKDWLWLVGHVLUDEOHDQGLQWKH
    [Show full text]
  • A Dream Play Background Pack
    Education A Dream Play Background Pack Contents A Dream Play 2 Introduction 3 The Original Play 4 The Director: Interview with Katie Mitchell 5 The Actor: Interview with Angus Wright 9 The Designer: Interview with Vicki Mortimer 12 Activities and Discussion 15 Related Materials 16 ADreamPlay By August Strindberg in a new version by Caryl Churchill with additional material by Katie Mitchell and the Company Angus Wright Photo: Stephen Cummiskey A Dream Play Background pack written by NT Education Background pack By August Strindberg, in a Jonathan Croall, journalist National Theatre © Jonathan Croall new version by Caryl Churchill and theatrical biographer, and South Bank The views expressed in this With additional material by author of three books in the London SE1 9PX background pack are not Katie Mitchell and the series ‘The National Theatre T 020 7452 3388 necessarily those of the Company. at Work’. F 020 7452 3380 National Theatre Director Editor E educationenquiries@ Katie Mitchell Emma Thirlwell nationaltheatre.org.uk Further production details Design www.nationaltheatre.org.uk Patrick Eley, Lisa Johnson A Dream Play CAST (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) KATIE MITCHELL Director VICKI MORTIMER Designer MARK ARENDS CHRIS DAVEY Lighting Designer Young George, the broker’s brother KATE FLATT Choreographer Geoffrey, Victoria’s lover SIMON ALLEN Music Director and Arranger ANASTASIA HILLE CHRISTOPHER SHUTT Sound Designer Christine, the broker’s mother KATE GODFREY Company Voice Work KRISTIN HUTCHINSON Rachel, the broker’s first wife Music played live by: Paul Higgs Associate MD/piano/keyboard SEAN JACKSON Joe Townsend violin Security Supervisor Katja Mervola viola Port Health Officer Penny Bradshaw cello CHARLOTTE ROACH Schubert’s ‘Nacht und Träume’ specially Lina the maid recorded by: Ugly Edith, the broker’s co-respondent Mark Padmore tenor DOMINIC ROWAN Andrew West piano Herbert, the broker’s father Adult George, the broker’s brother This production opened at the National’s JUSTIN SALINGER Cottesloe Theatre on 15 February 2005.
    [Show full text]
  • 6. Naturalism and the Plot in Creditors
    6. Naturalism and the Plot in Creditors Although Strindberg used the Preface to Miss Julie to proclaim that the Naturalist had abandoned guilt along with God (‘skulden har naturalisten utstrukit med Gud’ [SV 27, 106]), all the major texts that he wrote in the wake of e Son of a Servant in 1886 present the problem of guilt, of a just apportioning of blame for the way in which the events of the plot have unfolded, as an insistent one. ‘Vems är felet?’, ‘Vem bär skulden?’, ‘Vems är skulden till vad som skett?’ ask the heroes and the heroine of e Father, A Madman’s Defence and Miss Julie in turn: Whose fault is it? Who is to blame? Whose is the guilt for what has happened? And notwithstanding his attempt to approach and explain ‘the harsh, cynical, heartless drama that life aords’ [SV 27, 102] with a notional scientic objectivity, that is, to analyse human behaviour from the point of view of a vivisector for whom the stage has been transposed into an operating theatre for the dissection of human souls, at least one early reviewer, Edvard Brandes, perceived the way in which accounts are nally settled in Creditors (1888) as a serious lapse on Strindberg’s part from the naturalist doctrine of the author’s impassibilité. Moreover, Strindberg’s pained response to Brandes’ criticism of his putative protagonist, Gustaf, as a moralist and a preacher might well be interpreted as betraying his own unease over some of the contradictions in which his elaboration of the plot of Creditors in accordance with naturalist principles had embroiled him.1 e context
    [Show full text]
  • Aurora Theatre Company Presents August Strindberg’S Creditors a New Version by David Greig January 25 - February 24 (Opens: January 31)
    PRESS RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dayna Kalakau 510.843.8422 x311 [email protected] AURORA THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS AUGUST STRINDBERG’S CREDITORS A NEW VERSION BY DAVID GREIG JANUARY 25 - FEBRUARY 24 (OPENS: JANUARY 31) BERKELEY, CA (Dec. 18, 2018) Aurora Theatre Company continues its dynamic 27th season ​ with August Strindberg’s CREDITORS, a new version by David Greig, directed by Barbara ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Damashek (A Number, Splendour). The cast features Rebecca Dines (Mud Blue Sky, The ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Homecoming, Widower’s Houses), Joseph Patrick O’Malley (A Number), Jonathan Rhys ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Williams (Therese Raquin, The Homecoming). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ CREDITORS runs January 25 - February 24 (Opens: January 31). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Written in 1888, the same year he wrote Miss Julie, Strindberg’s Creditors is a powerful ​ ​ ​ ​ psychodrama about a sexual triangle taken to destructive extremes. Adolf, a painter who has taken up sculpture, has been befriended by Gustav, who both inspires him and feeds his mind with doubts about Tekla, Adolf’s novelist wife. In this real-time tragi-comic classic, we watch their threeway web of deceit and shifting power grow ever more deadly. This exciting new version by Scottish playwright David Greig (The Events) has been called "both coldly objective ​ ​ and scathingly passionate" by the NY Times. Time Out New York called CREDITORS “A rollercoaster of sex, lies and revenge.” ​ ​ ​ August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, and essayist best known for his play ​ Miss Julie. He is widely regarded as one of the great dramatists of his time and one of the great ​ Scandinavian playwrights. Award-winning Scottish playwright and director David Greig’s work for theatre includes The ​ ​ ​ Events, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Midsummer, Creditors, and Caligula.
    [Show full text]
  • New Options for Creditors in German
    Number 1257 14 November 2011 Client Alert Latham & Watkins Finance Department New Options for Creditors in German Insolvency Proceedings German Parliament passes “Act for the Further Facilitation of the Restructuring of Companies“ (Gesetz zur weiteren Erleichterung der Sanierung von Unternehmen, ESUG) On 27 October 2011, the German incorporated into the German Parliament (Bundestag) finally passed Insolvency Act of 1999. The reform the “Act for the Further Facilitation will give rise to new opportunities, of the Restructuring of Companies“ especially for banks and hedge funds, (Gesetz zur weiteren Erleichterung der but also for distressed companies. Sanierung von Unternehmen, ESUG, BT-Drs: 17/7511) (ESUG). The Federal The new Preliminary Council of Germany (Bundesrat) will “The insolvency vote on ESUG in late November or Creditors’ Committee reform will give early December 2011. The aim of In order to allow creditors to have this substantial insolvency reform rise to new more influence at the early stages of is to make German insolvency law insolvency, a new form of statutory opportunities, more competitive. In the past, it has creditor participation, the “Preliminary especially for been routine for creditors to consider Creditors’ Committee” (vorläufiger and, in some cases implement, a shift banks and hedge Gläubigerausschuss), has been of the debtor company’s center of introduced (sec. 22a ESUG-InsO). funds, but also main interest (the so called COMI) A Preliminary Creditors’ Committee for distressed abroad in order to benefit from
    [Show full text]
  • Preventive Restructuring Process & Changes T
    Kirkland Alert Major Positive Changes in the German Restructuring and Insolvency Landscape — Preventive Restructuring Process & Changes to the Insolvency Code 25 September 2020 Germany is close to making a huge step towards international best practice for restructuring. On 19 September 2020, the German Ministry of Justice published a draft bill introducing a new stand-alone preventive restructuring process, accompanied by targeted amendments to insolvency law and related areas. The bill is currently available in draft form only, expected to be debated in and passed by Parliament and relevant committees in 2020, and — hopefully without signi cant changes — to enter into force on 1 January 2021. Timing is of the essence as COVID- related relief of insolvency ling duties, although very recently extended until year end with regard to balance-sheet insolvency, will end on 31 December 2020. Preventive Restructuring Process The preventive restructuring process combines features of well-tested restructuring proceedings, such as English schemes of arrangement and U.S. chapter 11 proceedings. Upon the occurrence of imminent cash-¡ow insolvency, the debtor-led process allows the implementation of tailor-made restructuring plans by majority decision and provides for an eective mechanism to bind dissenting creditors while protecting minority rights. The debtor can restructure its nancial liabilities in an ecient and quick process while its business continues to operate. Court involvement is mostly optional, as is supervision by a restructuring practitioner. It remains to be seen whether the new restructuring process will be capable of restructuring leases and other non- nancial liabilities. Claims of employees cannot be compromised in the restructuring process.
    [Show full text]