Morris Group of Companies

Morris Group of Companies, which consists of four Saskatchewan-based companies and an American branch in the business of manufacturing and distributing farm equipment, filed for protection under the CCAA on January 8, listing approximately $4.4 million in liabilities, including $2.1 million to De Lage Landen and $1.9 million to Kubota Canada. Morris Industries is the primary operating company and manufactures air carts, drills, seeders, and bale carriers. In recent years, the Morris Group has incurred significant losses due to several factors: the introduction of a new product line that experienced warranty issues which required a significant capital investment beyond foreseeable estimates; the Group's increased costs were accompanied by decreasing sales; and, as a result of declining financial results, the Group lost access to a factoring facility that had previously provided for the early payment of a substantial portion of its accounts receivable. Currently, each of the companies is unable to meet its obligations as they become due and is facing an imminent liquidity crisis. On January 16, the court granted the Group a stay of proceedings until March 27. BMO will be providing interim financing to the Group during the CCAA proceedings. Alvarez Marsal was appointed monitor. Counsel is McDougall Gauley for the Group, Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer for BMO, MLT Aikins for Alvarez & Marsal, Cassels Brock for De Lage Landen, and Miller Thomson for Kubota Canada.