Bankruptcy laws in the US have a complex history and have been influenced by conflicting views on the treatment of creditors and the impact on different sectors of society.
The FTX bankruptcy case highlights the challenges and considerations related to clawbacks, particularly in proving insolvency and determining the moment of insolvency.
Deep dives
The Importance of Bankruptcy Law in American History
Bankruptcy has played a significant role in American history, second only to slavery in importance during the 19th century. Alexander Hamilton supported bankruptcy laws to ensure fair treatment of creditors and the growth of a commercial nation, while Thomas Jefferson opposed bankruptcy, fearing it would harm farmers and enable exploitation by northeastern creditors. The battle over federal bankruptcy laws lasted a century before a permanent law was established.
The Evolution of Bankruptcy Laws for Large Corporations
In the early 20th century, a reorganization strategy using foreclosure law emerged for large corporations, particularly railroads. Wall Street lawyers and bankers would form reorganization committees, negotiate with debtors, and buy all stocks and bonds at foreclosure sales to keep the companies intact. This practice continued until New Deal reformers called for an end to perceived exploitation by Wall Street banks and lawyers. The Chandler Act of 1938 destroyed this practice, but in 1978, the bankruptcy laws reverted to allowing managers to continue running companies during bankruptcy.
Checks and Balances in the Bankruptcy System
The bankruptcy system has checks and balances, but their effectiveness varies. The US trustee, a watchdog entity under the Justice Department, monitors fees and conflicts of interest. However, they are not always a complete check. Fee examiners are sometimes appointed to scrutinize fees, but their impact is limited. Bankruptcy judges play a crucial role but can face informational disadvantages, relying on their instincts to identify problems and make decisions. While professionals generally perform well, fee inflation remains a potential issue.
Clawbacks and Fraudulent Conveyance in FTX Bankruptcy
Clawbacks are a significant concern in the FTX bankruptcy, where individuals who received money from the company might face having to return it. Fraudulent conveyance laws can be invoked if a company was insolvent or near insolvency when the transfer occurred, and if the transfer did not result in reasonably equivalent value. Even charitable contributions can face clawbacks. However, proving insolvency and identifying the moment of insolvency can be challenging. The bankruptcy judge, as well as the US trustee and fee examiners, play roles in evaluating clawbacks.
Often when a corporation declares bankruptcy, that happens at the end of a long and difficult road. But entering bankruptcy proceedings also means setting out on a new and equally difficult road. That’s where Michael Lewis finds the subject of his next book, Sam Bankman-Fried. The company Bankman-Fried founded, FTX, entered bankruptcy late last year. For some perspective on what could be one of the messiest bankruptcy cases of recent times, Michael turns to David Skeel. Skeel is a professor of corporate law at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the foremost historians of bankruptcy in the US.
Send a question to Michael Lewis, and he might answer it on an upcoming episode of Against the Rules. Head to atrpodcast.com.