IEC Ltd., Audeamus Capital Corp. and certain other entities related to the Strategic Group

IEC Ltd., Audeamus Capital Corp. and certain other entities related to the Strategic Group, one of Calgary, Alberta's largest real estate companies, had their properties placed in interim receivership on application by a group of the companies' lenders. The companies obtained protection under the CCAA on December 10, attributing their financial difficulties to the extended slump in the Canadian energy market and its effect on the Calgary real estate market. The companies' request to be granted creditor protection past the initial 10-day stay was opposed by the applicants in part on the basis that they no longer had confidence in the management of the companies and wanted a receiver appointed to safely manage and preserve the properties, ensure rents are collected and not co-mingled amongst the various companies and ensure operational expenses are paid by the appropriate companies. Alvarez & Marsal was appointed interim receiver. Counsel is McCarthy Tétrault for the company, Dentons for the interim receiver, Norton Rose Fulbright for the CCAA monitor Hardie & Kelly, BLG for BMO and certain other lenders, Blakes for Sun Life, Cassels for MCAP and BDC, McMillan for RBC, McLennan Ross for CWB, Brownlee for Canada ICI and SBI Canada Bank, Lawson Lundell for Vancity Community Investment Bank and Centurion Mortgage Capital Corporation, Fasken for Fiera, Torys for Connect First Credit Union, Gowling WLG for CIBC, Stikeman Elliott for IMC and Computershare, Osler for TELUS Pension Master Trust, Bennett Jones for Trez Capital and Parlee McLaws for Equitable Life.