Assignment For The Benefit of Creditors
Assignment For The Benefit Of Creditors Is As Easy As ABC
Assignment For The Benefit Of Creditors is a little-known alternative to Chapter 7 or a liquidating Chapter 11 bankruptcy that is emerging as an important tool in this state.
Assignment for the benefit of creditors is a way to that allows a business to end its creditor obligations while avoiding the costs, time and stigma associated with bankruptcy.
Assignment for the benefit of creditors is many ways is as easy as ABC.
A key benefit of the assignment for the benefit of creditors, or ABC process, which has become increasingly popular in Washington since a new receivership bill was enacted by the Legislature in 2004, is that the debtor company is allowed to pick the assignee.
Unlike a bankruptcy trustee, who is selected at random from a pool of trustees, the business itself may select someone who has experience with the selected process and the sale of business assets when utilizing the assignment for the benefit of creditors alternative.
Why Is The Assignment For The Benefit Of Creditors Important?
Assignment for the benefit of creditors is important because all of the assets previously belonging to the assignor become the property of the assignee until liquidation. To better understand how an ABC works, consider the following scenario: The owner or shareholders of a private corporation have made multiple investments in the company as its sales and profitability declined during the past couple of years.
They have reached a point where no more money is to be had. The company has maxed out its line of credit with the bank in order to support the company through the period of losses and the bank has declined to renew the credit line. Accounts payable are aging and key creditors are demanding payment.
“With an assignment for the benefit of creditors, owners seeking an exit from troubled businesses have alternatives that don’t carry the costs and stigma of bankruptcy.
A Chapter 11 bankruptcy is problematic because of the expense and the lack of cash to fund the operations. Debtor in Possession financing is unavailable, especially to this size company. While a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or liquidation is an option, the owners do not want to incur the expense or publicity associated with a bankruptcy filing.
While the assignment for the benefit of creditors procedures in states like California and Oregon are without state court supervision, and the Civil Code outlines the procedures, they do not allow for an automatic stay preventing judgment creditors from attaching assets. Nor can assets be sold “free and clear” of security liens and interests without the consent or full payoff of lienholders. Other claims may be negotiated, but do not have the weight of state court backing.
Assignment For The Benefit of Creditors In Washington State
In Washington state, the assignment for the benefit of creditors process is court supervised and is more like a structured bankruptcy process. The debtor company is the “assignor” who transfers its assets to the “assignee,” who acts as a fiduciary on behalf of all of the creditors. Here is a snapshot of how the process works:
In an assignment for the benefit of creditors proceeding in Washington State, the assignee and assignor enter into an agreement, the form of which is specified by state statutes, in which the assignee agrees to accept the assets and liquidate them on behalf of the company’s creditors.
These assets may be liquidated as “a going concern” or sale of the company; or piecemeal as in a classic liquidation. Once agreement is reached between the assignor and assignee, the court is requested to appoint the assignee as a General Receiver under Washington state law and its receivership statutes.
The ongoing supervision of the court allows for many of the benefits of a bankruptcy, including the ability to stay collections by creditors and the ability to sell assets “free and clear” upon court approval. This is a major advantage of an assignment for the benefit of creditors alternative.
Generally, creditor claims are treated as in a bankruptcy, with certain taxes and employee claims having priority, followed by secured and unsecured creditors. While an assignment for the benefit of creditors is not the solution for every troubled company, it often holds the key to an orderly and quiet exit from a difficult business situation. And it is gaining additional attention in Washington state at a time when the economy is placing increasing numbers of companies into financial turmoil.
ALAN DAVIS is a principal at Revitalization Partners LLC in Seattle, and can be reached at 206.903.1855 or adavis@revitalizationpartners.com and can help you with an assignment for the benefit of creditors or many other debt restructuring options.
