HOW Fashions International Inc

HOW Fashions International Inc., Montreal, Quebec-based importer and distributor of women’s and men’s high-end fashion brand clothing and accessories, and 9896481 Canada Inc., the owner of certain trademarks related to fashion brands sold by HOW Fashions International Inc., each filed an NOI on October 22. The business suffered drastic financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the brand and the related merchandise having little realizable value. HSBC, the companies' senior secured creditor, engaged EY to assess the companies' operations with the companies' advisors. In August, the companies and their advisors began to implement a recovery and exit plan, including soliciting prospective purchasers for the sale of some or all of the companies’ assets. This resulted in the companies receiving an offer made by Captive Brands Corp. to purchase all of the companies’ intellectual property, as well as assets of its US counterpart, HOW International USA, Inc. The Quebec Superior Court (Commercial Division) granted an Approval and Vesting Order on October 29. EY is the proposal trustee. Counsel is Kugler Kandestin for the companies, Scheib Legal for Captive Brands Corp., Davies for HSBC and Fasken for the proposal trustee.