Subsidiary Bankruptcy and Deconsolidation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Reorganizations [Abstract]

Subsidiary Bankruptcy and Deconsolidation

Subsidiary Bankruptcy and Deconsolidation

Bankruptcy Filing and Deconsolidation

As a result of Specialty Pharma’s bankruptcy filing on February 6, 2019, Avadel ceded authority for managing the business to the Bankruptcy Court, and Avadel management could not carry on Specialty Pharma’s activities in the ordinary course of business without Bankruptcy Court approval. Prior to Bankruptcy Court approval, Avadel managed the day-to-day operations of Specialty Pharma but did not have discretion to make significant capital or operating budgetary changes or decisions and purchase or sell significant assets, as Specialty Pharma’s material decisions were subject to review by the Bankruptcy Court. For these reasons, we concluded that Avadel had lost control of Specialty Pharma, and no longer had significant influence over Specialty Pharma during the pendency of the bankruptcy. Therefore, we deconsolidated Specialty Pharma effective with the filing of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2019.

In order to deconsolidate Specialty Pharma, the carrying values of the assets and certain liabilities of Specialty Pharma were removed from our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of February 5, 2019, and we recorded our investment in Specialty Pharma at its estimated fair value of $0. As the estimated fair value of our investment in Specialty Pharma was lower than its net book value immediately prior to the deconsolidation, we recorded a non-cash charge of approximately $2,678 for the year ended December 31, 2019 associated with the deconsolidation of Specialty Pharma. Subsequent to the deconsolidation of Specialty Pharma, we are accounting for our investment in Specialty Pharma using the cost method of accounting because Avadel does not exercise significant influence over the operations of Specialty Pharma due to the Chapter 11 filing.

On April 26, 2019, Specialty Pharma sold its intangible assets and remaining inventory to an unaffiliated third party in exchange for aggregate cash proceeds of approximately $250, pursuant to an order approving such sale which was issued by the Bankruptcy Court on April 15, 2019. As a result of such sale, Specialty Pharma has completed its divestment of the assets of the Noctiva business.

On July 2, 2019, Specialty Pharma was made aware of a $50,695 claim made by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as part of the bankruptcy claims process against Specialty Pharma. On October 2, 2019 the IRS amended the original claim filed in July, reducing the claim to $9,302. Specialty Pharma filed its U.S. federal tax return as a member of the Company’s consolidated U.S. tax group. As such, the IRS claim was filed against Specialty Pharma in the bankruptcy proceedings due to IRS tax law requirements for joint and several liability of all members in a consolidated U.S. tax group. On November 19, 2019, Specialty Pharma and the IRS resolved their dispute, subject to the Bankruptcy Court’s approval of Specialty Pharma's Chapter 11 plan, and without prejudice to the claims, rights and defenses of the IRS and other Avadel entities outside of the bankruptcy case. The resolution provided for allowance of the IRS claim as a priority claim but for the IRS to receive a distribution of 50% of the proceeds, but in no event less than $125 from Specialty Pharma following confirmation of its disclosure statement and Chapter 11 plan of liquidation.

On July 24, 2020, Specialty Pharma sought bankruptcy court approval of a settlement agreement by and between it, Avadel US Holdings, Inc. and Serenity Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Serenity”) (the “Serenity Settlement Agreement”). Before the commencement of Specialty Pharma's bankruptcy case, Serenity asserted claims against Specialty Pharma and Avadel US Holdings collectively in an amount no less than $50,000, and after the commencement of the bankruptcy case, Serenity asserted a $3,096 claim against Specialty Pharma and voted to reject its Chapter 11 plan of liquidation. The Serenity Settlement Agreement provides for a global resolution of these disputes by way of an $800 payment from Avadel US Holdings to Serenity, a mutual exchange of general releases, and the withdrawal of Serenity's claim and vote in Specialty Pharma's bankruptcy case. The Serenity Settlement Agreement was approved by order of the Bankruptcy Court on August 12, 2020.

At a hearing conducted on October 6, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court granted final approval of Specialty Pharma’s disclosure statement and confirmed its Chapter 11 plan of liquidation. Pursuant to the plan, the appointment of a Plan Administrator was also approved. The Plan Administrator will be responsible for making distributions to creditors, managing the final windup and dissolution of Specialty Pharma, and taking other steps in accordance with the plan of liquidation. The plan of liquidation became effective on October 21, 2020. Subsequent to the finalization of the bankruptcy, we recognized a non-cash gain of $3,364 from the release of certain liabilities that had been retained following the deconsolidation of Specialty Pharma. This gain is including in "Gain from release of certain liabilities" within non-operating income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Debtor in Possession (“DIP”) Financing – Related Party Relationship

In connection with the bankruptcy filing, Specialty Pharma entered into a Debtor in Possession Credit and Security Agreement with Avadel US Holdings (“DIP Credit Agreement”) dated as of February 8, 2019, in an aggregate amount of up to $2,700, of which the funds are to be used by Specialty Pharma solely to fund operations through February 6, 2020. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company funded $407 under the DIP Credit Agreement. As the Company assessed that it is unlikely that Specialty Pharma will pay back the loan to Avadel, the $407 was recorded as part of the loss on deconsolidation of subsidiary within the consolidated statements of income (loss) during the year ended December 31, 2019. No amounts were funded under the DIP Credit Agreement during the year ended December 31, 2020. We do not expect any additional further liabilities from the DIP Credit Agreement.