August 24, 2026

First Brand Group’s bankruptcy proceedings

Goodmans LLP acted as Canadian counsel to First Brands Group, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries (the “FBG Group”) in connection with their Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States.

In 2025, the FBG Group filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings for certain U.S. entities and sought out strategic out-of-court alternatives for non-U.S. entities, including certain Canadian entities. Unfortunately, due to significant economic issues and other concerns, the FBG Group was not able to secure transactions for a number of its business units. As a result, Hopkins Canada, Inc., FRAM Group (Canada) Inc. and Cequent Towing Products of Canada Ltd., three Canadian automotive aftermarket entities within the FBG platform, entered Canadian bankruptcy following the collapse of a group-wide sale process and the planned wind-down of their business units. As well, in August of 2026, the Chapter 11 cases in the United States were converted to Chapter 7 cases under the Bankruptcy Code.

The FBG Group was a leading global supplier of aftermarket automotive parts with key product categories including brakes, filters, wipers, lights, pumps and towing stations. Based out of Cleveland, Ohio and with operations worldwide, the FBG Group had built a global network of manufacturing and vertically integrated distribution centers that spanned five continents.

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First Brand Group’s bankruptcy proceedings

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