Creative Uses of Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code to Smooth Cross-Border Restructurings

Journal of International Banking Law and Regulation, Vol. 485, 2009

10 Pages Posted: 31 Aug 2009

Date Written: August 31, 2009

Abstract

The decisions in Castle Holdco and Grand Prix show some creative uses of Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code to facilitate cross-border restructurings, from which one may derive the following propositions.

First, an English scheme of arrangement prior to its sanction by the English court is entitled to recognition under Chapter 15.

Second, a BVI plan of arrangement prior to its approval by the BVI court is also entitled to recognition under Chapter 15.

Third, when granting a discretionary relief under section 1521 of the Bankruptcy Code, the US bankruptcy court may cloak the relief with extra-territorial effect.

Fourth, when applying Chapter 15, the US bankruptcy court would be minded to serve the cause of the Model Law with a comity-flavoured mindset.

However, the Grand Prix decision appears to have suffered from an overly keen judicial desire to facilitate a private litigation settlement, at the expense of eloquent reasoning. In Bear Stearns, the court emphasised that the Chapter 15 recognition process is not a rubber stamp exercise even when no objection is filed. In Grand Prix, the court specifically approved the Bear Stearns approach, but its actual decision seems ironically to reflect the rubber stamping exercise proscribed in Bear Stearns. If comparable circumstances arise under UK Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006, it is suggested that the English court should treat this unsettling aspect the Grand Prix decision with great caution.

Keywords: Cross-Border Insolvency, English scheme of arrangement, British Virgin Islands plan of arrangement; cross-border enforcement; UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency

JEL Classification: K10,K12,K19,K20,K22,K29,K30,K33,K39,K40,K41,K49

Suggested Citation

Ho, Look Chan, Creative Uses of Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code to Smooth Cross-Border Restructurings (August 31, 2009). Journal of International Banking Law and Regulation, Vol. 485, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1465053

Look Chan Ho (Contact Author)

Des Voeux Chambers ( email )

38/F Gloucester Tower
The Landmark
Central
Hong Kong
+852 2526 3071 (Phone)
+852 2810 5287 (Fax)

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