PrimeCARE Health Clinics

PrimeCARE Health Clinics, Alberta-based healthcare providers with medical clinics in Calgary, Grand Prairie, and Carstairs, were placed in receivership on January 14 on application by ATB Financial, owed approximately $7.4 million. ATB had advanced funds to the companies pursuant to various commitment letters. The companies committed several defaults under these letters, and since May 2019, ATB has been negotiating with them to enter a forbearance agreement. However, the parties were unable to agree to the agreement prior to the clinics ceasing operations, and subsequent events led ATB to conclude that it was not prepared to provide further funding to the companies to continue the operation of their clinics. ATB was advised by the companies that they had removed $2.0 million from the business to be invested in real estate ventures, including a quadplex in Calgary and a failed development in Nigeria. When ATB asked for the details of these transactions to be provided as part of the proposed forbearance agreement, the companies failed to do so. These transactions caused ATB serious concern and were one of the primary causes of the companies' liquidity issues. EY was appointed receiver. MLT Aikins is counsel to the applicant.