Tuesday, February 24, 2009

IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS READY TO FILE BANKRUPTCY THIS IS GOOD

Signs of life seen in bankruptcy loan market
Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:59pm GMT

By Emily Chasan

NEW YORK, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The market for debtor-in-posession (DIP) financing, which helps companies fund operations during bankruptcy, is starting to improve, a top U.S. bankruptcy attorney said on Monday.

DIP financing is the lifeblood that keeps companies running while they try to reorganize under bankruptcy protection. But the once-buoyant market for such funds had virtually dried up this past year as banks and lenders grew cautious during the global credit crisis.

A few recent deals are starting to revive the market, said James Sprayregen, a bankruptcy attorney at law firm Kirkland & Ellis, speaking at an Institutional Investor Distressed Investing conference in New York.

"It's not wide open, that's for sure. But it's a lot more open than it was in November and December," Sprayregen said of the DIP market.

One sign of encouragement, Sprayregen said, was the $750 million DIP loan lined up for Smurfit Stone Container Corp (SSCCQ.PK: Quote, Profile, Research). The loan was more similar to ones granted in the heyday of DIP lending a few years ago than the "creative," cobbled-together loans from current lenders that have become more common in recent months.

The company received final court approval for the loan Monday. [ID:nWNAB5730]

"You are actually kind of seeing capitalism at work in loosening up the market for DIP loans," said Sprayregen, who guided United Airlines (UAUA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) out of bankruptcy in 2006.

"It is by no means a robust market, but there is a market," he added.

"Creative defensive" DIP loans have become the norm, Sprayregen said, pointing to companies like petrochemicals maker Lyondell Chemical Co [ACCELC.UL] that received untraditional DIPs.

Lyondell is looking to get court approval this week for its $8 billion DIP loan, the largest put together in history. The company obtained the loan by allowing investors to boost the seniority of their prebankruptcy loans with the bankruptcy financing. Each investor was allowed to boost the seniority of each dollar of an old loan with each dollar of new money contributed.

So-called roll-up deals can be attractive to creditors in bankruptcy because DIP loans are typically among the first to be repaid and have the added benefit of protecting their initial investment in the company.

Such "dollar-for-dollar" DIPs may gain in popularity, Sprayregen said. Aleris International Inc [TXPACA.UL], the aluminum rolled products producer, adopted a similar structure for its $1.075 billion loan earlier this month, offering investors the chance to roll up slightly more than a dollar of old money for every dollar of new money that they invested.

However, despite signs of life in the market, it can still take months for companies to try to line up financing to fund a bankruptcy, and many companies may run out of time before they arrange the financing.

Sprayregen, who recently returned to Kirkland & Ellis after a stint at Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research), said he often tells his clients "to think about how you can fund your own case." (Reporting by Emily Chasan; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Saturday, February 21, 2009

UPDATE ON OBAMA AND BANKRUPTCY

Extent of Bankruptcy Reform Hinges on Details

PHOTOS
Previous Next
People wait in a high school gymnasium near Phoenix to hear President Obama's plans for curtailing foreclosures.
People wait in a high school gymnasium near Phoenix to hear President Obama's plans for curtailing foreclosures. (By Bill O'leary -- The Washington Post)
President Obama at Dobson High School in Arizona, where discussed his plans for fixing the foreclosure crisis Wednesday.
President Obama at Dobson High School in Arizona, where discussed his plans for fixing the foreclosure crisis Wednesday. (By Bill O'leary -- The Washington Post)

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Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 21, 2009; Page D01

When President Obama touted reform of the bankruptcy code while unveiling his foreclosure prevention program earlier this week, it wasn't much of a surprise. He had advocated allowing judges to modify troubled loans several times before, including during the presidential campaign.

This Story

Extent of Bankruptcy Reform Hinges on Details

PHOTOS
Previous Next
People wait in a high school gymnasium near Phoenix to hear President Obama's plans for curtailing foreclosures.
People wait in a high school gymnasium near Phoenix to hear President Obama's plans for curtailing foreclosures. (By Bill O'leary -- The Washington Post)
President Obama at Dobson High School in Arizona, where discussed his plans for fixing the foreclosure crisis Wednesday.
President Obama at Dobson High School in Arizona, where discussed his plans for fixing the foreclosure crisis Wednesday. (By Bill O'leary -- The Washington Post)

Discussion Policy
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.

"It will curb the number of people who can use [the bankruptcy court] -- and probably not in a sensible way," said Porter. "The people who are still in homes they bought in '04 really fought hard to stay," she said. "We should be giving them help." Many subprime and other loans now burdening homeowners were taken out at least four years ago, she noted.

This Story

The proposal would also cap the value of the loans eligible for bankruptcy modification to limits set by mortgage finance firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which could be difficult in parts of the country that saw the biggest run-up in prices.

(The conforming loan limit is currently $417,000 in most parts of the country and $625,000 in high-price areas, including the Washington region, though the limit in these areas will soon rise to $729,750.)

"At certain points during the bubble, 60 percent of the homes purchased in California were above the conforming loan limit," Sommer said.

Obama's plan mimics a provision included in the House version of the legislation requiring homeowners to contact their lender before filing for bankruptcy. But the White House version also requires the homeowner to certify that they have complied with requests for information from their lender. Industry officials said that would help weed out homeowners that received their mortgage fraudulently.

But the provision could also allow lenders to disrupt the bankruptcy process by contending they did not receive all requested information, Sommer said. That would be frustrating to homeowners who complain that lenders ignore their pleas for help even after submitting and resubmitting information, he said.

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"What we don't want is where someone would think they had provided reasonable information, and the lender comes into bankruptcy court and says, 'You can't do this, we wanted to ask you for more information,' " Sommer said. "We don't want to create a potential gotcha situation where they can try to trip people up."

Thursday, October 30, 2008

BANKRUPTCY HELPS STOP FORECLOSURES

Its understandable that not being in a financial position to pay your mortgages, lines of credit and the like can lead to a fear of foreclosure. Maybe the lender has already made calls and the process appears to be imminent--or you are already in the process. If you are in a position to file bankruptcy, in addition to the other relief presently available, it can get you in a position to stave off the foreclosure for a significant period of time, and maybe permenantly. It will give you time to potentially refinance, renegotiate, do a short sale, or even prepare to move.

Time is everything in times of financial hardship. Under California law, the quickest a lender was able to conduct a foreclosure sale (really, in California, a sale under a deed of trust) was 4 months from the date the notice of default is served on you. A Notice of Default is a formal notice, served and posted, its not the letter from the bank.

As of July, California has added additional requirements which add 30 more days, at a minimum, and the contact must be very specific to trigger the ability to file the notice of default.

The new law can be found at California Civil Code Sections 2923.5, 2923.6, 2924.8and 2929.3, and California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161b. The key provisions of the new law provide that:

1. A mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary or authorized agent (hereafter referred to as the "mortgagee") must wait 30 days after contact is made with the borrower, or 30 days after satisfying due diligence requirements to contact the borrower before filing a notice of default.

2. Contact must be made in person or by telephone in order to assess the borrower's financial situation and explore options for the borrower to avoid foreclosure.

3. The borrower must be advised that he has the right to request a subsequent meeting and, if requested, the subsequent meeting must occur within 14 days of the original contact. Any meeting may occur telephonically.

4. The borrower must be provided with the toll-free telephone number made available by HUD to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.

5. In order to satisfy the due diligence requirement, the mortgagee must first attempt to contact a borrower by sending a first-class letter that includes the toll-free telephone number made available by HUD to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency. After that, the mortgagee must attempt to contact the borrower by telephone at the primary telephone number on file at least three times at different hours and on different days. The diligence requirement is deemed satisfied if the mortgagee determines that the borrower's primary telephone number and secondary telephone number or numbers on file, if any, have been disconnected. If the borrower does not respond within two weeks after the telephone call requirements have been satisfied, the mortgagee must send a certified letter, return receipt requested. The mortgagee must also provide a means for the borrower to contact it in a timely manner, including a toll-free telephone number that will provide access to a live representative during business hours, and post a prominent link on the homepage of its internet web site, if any, to the following information:

a. Options that may be available to borrowers who are unable to afford their mortgage payments and who wish to avoid foreclosure, and instructions to borrowers advising them on steps to take to explore those options;

b. A list of financial documents borrowers should collect and be prepared to present to the mortgagee when discussing options for avoiding foreclosure;

c. A toll-free telephone number for borrowers who wish to discuss options for avoiding foreclosure with the mortgagee; and

d. The toll-free telephone number made available by HUD to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency.

6. A notice of default must include a declaration from the mortgagee that it has contacted the borrower, tried with due diligence to contact the borrower, or that the borrower has surrendered the security property to the mortgagee.

7. If the mortgagee has already filed a notice of default prior to July 8 and did not subsequently file a notice of rescission, then the mortgagee must, as part of the notice of sale, include a declaration that either (a) states that the borrower was contacted to assess the borrower's financial situation and to explore options for the borrower to avoid foreclosure, or (b) lists the efforts made, if any, to contact the borrower in the event that no contact was made.


Bankruptcy adds additional requirements. In a Bankruptcy, the lender cannot do anything without a Court order until the bankruptcy is over. Depending on whether you qualify or it is the best option to file a Chapter 7, 11 or 13, in bankruptcy you might be able to renegotiate your loan, or potentially strip the amount over the value and have the loan only be for the amount of the value. This means, for example, if you loan is now $500,000 but your property is only worth $350,000, in bankruptcy it is possible to make the loan only $350,000.

Lenders are scared. Maybe more than you. If you want to review your situation, don't hesitate to call or email. www.arothmanlaw.com or (310) 461-1395.

Friday, October 3, 2008

THE VP CANDIDATES WERE ASKED ABOUT BANKRUPTCY!

Yes, its been a crazy election season. Last night, as most of you are aware, was the only Vice Presidential debate. It was highly anticipated to see Governor Palin actually be asked real questions and have to give real answers. She really didn't answer many questions, she simply used the ability to respond as a way to speak what she learned the days before about what positions she should take. It was actually quite impressive.

One of the questions asked involved our little subject---Bankruptcy! It warmed my heart to hear it. Like seeing your local high school product make it to the major leagues. It again was quite exciting!

The question was about whether the banking "bailout" (or whatever nice term we should call it) should include the ability for bankruptcy judges to modify home loans. As the law stands now, this isn't allowed---vacation homes it can happen, investment property it can happen, heck, even for cars it can happen, just not your residence. Its been a long standing stand of the banking lobby against it (go figure) and it still hasn't happened.

Well, Senator Biden said it should happen, that it should be extended to the principle of the loan, in addition to the interest. Gov. Palin didn't answer the question---she started talking about health care or energy.

The fact is, if congress gave courts this ability (through a modification of the bankruptcy code) it would save many billions of this mess. If you have any questions about this, and what you can do, don't hesitate to shoot me an email (anthony@arothmanlaw.com ).

Thursday, September 18, 2008

PALIN AND BANKRUPTCY

Sara Palin. Whatever. Yeah, I am supposed to be writing about bankruptcy, and its effect on you, but this person could be vice president.

I love Alaska. I have always wanted to go, and will. It has nothing to do with that. Let's see about Ms. Palin and bankruptcy:

1. Googling "Palin and Bankruptcy" the first thing that comes up is:

Troopergate Response Shows Moral Bankruptcy of McCain-Palin Campaign



from this website: http://ohiodailyblog.com/content/troopergate-response-shows-moral-bankruptcy-mccain-palin-campaign

Well, I was trying to find stuff about Palin and bankruptcy in terms of positions on going bankrupt, the current state of the laws, etc. This is about her moral bankruptcy (I don't think it mentions about her daughter, we will leave Bill ORielly for that).


2. There is a website called Pacer. When you are an attorney, or anyone else, you can get an account and look up stuff in Federal Court. Well, in Alaska, searching Palin, there was no bankruptcy. Searching in California, this came up:
Palin, Becky L (pty)
Palin, Eric S (pty)
Palin, Grant (pty)
Palin, Grant (pty)
Palin, Margaret (pty)
Palin, Mark T (aty)

No clue whether these people are related or not. If they are, since Governor Palin is so adept at helping her relatives, I hope she is helping these guys. Otherwise, let us know your position.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

WHAT PRESIDENT WILL HELP YOU FILE BANKRUPTCY?

Been watching the democratic convention? Whatever your opinion is of the candidates, it is quite a spectacle. I at least never know if I am watching a unique function of our great countries' constitutional system or some bizarre marketing blitz for the sole function to control us and the world. Who knows. Really, who knows if these people are even real.

Anyways, away from my Paul Harveyesque discussion, the topic here is bankruptcy. In 2005, our great congress and senate, with the blessing of our President, signed the new bankruptcy law that is currently in effect. Let me tell you, the law for those of you needing to file, made things a heck of a lot more difficult. You used to be able to pretty much file a Chapter 7 (liquidation) if you couldn't pay your debts. Now, you have to go through what is called a "means test" to see if you meet standards based on local and national standards. Many can still file, but it certainly has loomed to be a deterrent and has caused many more to seek credit counseling (more on this later) than go through bankruptcy.

The problem with the means test and the hoops is that looking at numbers and looking at real life many times are completely different things. For instance, you look like you make good money (lets say 105,000) but have 4 kids and huge expenses. One kid is sick, you don't have insurance, etc. These may not meet the "means test", but you certainly need bankruptcy, as intended. That is what I am saying.

So, in terms of the candidates, which one is best? Well, Mc Cain was a big supporter of changing the bankruptcy laws, and I believe if you checked out his contributions from the banking industry, it would be consistent with the law helping them out. Obama did not support the change in the law, and has stated that he wants the law to change to help people who have lost jobs, in the military, that are having a particularly tough time. Assuming Obama has congressional backing, he will seek to change the law to make it easier for people to discharge their debts to be able to live.

Mind you, if someone defrauds a bank or anyone, bankruptcy doesn't help. This is for legitimate debts of people who need help. It is a fundamental right of our country (actually in the constitution in Article I-To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States).

Keep this in mind for you and your fellow Americans when you vote in November.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

BUYING GAS CAN HELP YOU QUALIFY FOR BANKRUPTCY

What a loopy world we live in. I mean, we eat, walk around, work hard, and of course, play. For some of us, its a struggle. Well, actually, a lot of people struggle. There are such nice things to do, but they all cost money. Real money.

Until the last few years, we have as a country been able to do stuff with ease. Now, gas. Its almost 5 bucks a gallon. For most of us, it is now a HUGE part of our monthly expense. Believe it or not, it can be used to your benefit if you are in the situation to seek bankruptcy protection.

You see, the Government (yes, the same one that the gas prices have hit these prices) amended the Bankruptcy Laws a few years back to make it more difficult to file. A means test was added as a requirement prior to filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This means that you had to analyze your income and debts, and determine prior to filing whether you made too much to get rid of all of your debts.

Your expenses aren't relevant unless you had income between $6,000 and 10,000. Now, the steep gas prices, it is a legitimate expense that helps one become qualified within these income ranges.

So don't fret---when you drive around and need to fill up, there is a way it can help you that prices are so high!

If interested, go to www.easychapter7.com for information.