Gozco

Gozco, a Calgary, Alberta-based investment firm, filed for bankruptcy in March 2018. PwC was appointed trustee. George Gosbee, who passed away in November 2017, was the company's sole director, officer, and shareholder. Karen Gosbee, his spouse, is the personal representative of Mr. Gosbee's estate. On January 7, PwC filed an application for an order declaring, amongst other things, that certain transactions granted by the company in favour of BNS (collectively, the "BNS Transaction") constitute a transfer at undervalue and are void as against the trustee. Bowfort, the company's primary creditor, had provided to the company a loan of USD $5.0 million secured by a promissory note dated January 2014. This loan was advanced to the company to assist in funding its USD $7.5 million investment in a US business venture. The company did not make any repayments of the loan to Bowfort other than certain baseline annual interest payments. On August 10, 2017, the Gosbees entered into a commitment letter with BNS to open a private and personal overdraft lending account. At their direction, the company completed a series of transfers whereby USD $750.0 thousand belonging to the company was transferred into this personal account, to the detriment of the company's creditors. At the time the BNS Transaction was completed, the company was insolvent. It is alleged that there was no valid business purpose for the company entering the BNS Transaction, and by doing so, it breached its obligation to Bowfort. PwC alleges that the BNS Transaction was intended to defraud, delay, or hinder the company's creditors. Bennett Jones is counsel to the applicant.