Friday, July 10, 2009

Chrysler Precedent

The Obama administration's restructuring of Chrysler, which overturned normal creditor rights, is now a precedent to be imitated.

For a hockey team.

A lawyer for the Phoenix Coyotes is trying to use the Chrysler case as a precedent for a similar quick restructuring.

Rather than Chrysler being an exception due to its the "importance of the auto industry", it will encourage other bankruptcy cases to follow its bad example.

The result will be a higher cost of capital and reduced economic growth, as creditors need to consider the risk that their priority in bankruptcy won't be honored and demand higher interest rates to offset the greater risk.

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