On August 29, 2016, the Third Circuit released a precedential opinion (the "Opinion") which opined that a "[redemption] premium, meant to give the lenders the interest yield they expect, [does not] fall away because the full principal amount is now due and the noteholders are barred from rescinding the acceleration of debt." The Third Circuit's Opinion is available here. This Opinion was issued in an appeal from a decision made in the Energy Future Holdings Bankruptcy Case No. 14-10979. The District Court and Bankruptcy Court both ruled that the make-whole premium did not survive bankruptcy, and this Opinion reversed those of the lower courts.
Because we represent a party at interest in the EFH bankruptcy, I won't be providing a summary of this Opinion. I will say, however, that this Opinion represents a major change in the way that redemption premiums will be considered in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court. This is not an opinion that can be overlooked, and practitioners in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court should make sure they are familiar with the analysis applied by the Opinion written by Judge Ambro.
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