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Order Authorizing Debtors To Employ

Date
2022-11-01

Summary

Exhibit 2 to a filing in Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a KServicing, et al., Case No. 22-10951 (CTG), a jointly administered Chapter 11 case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, filed November 1, 2022 as Doc 188-2. The exhibit is a redline of a proposed Order Authorizing Debtors to Employ Professionals Used in Ordinary Course of Business, sought by a motion dated October 17, 2022 under sections 105(a), 327 and 330 of the Bankruptcy Code. The proposed order would let the debtors retain and pay the Ordinary Course Professionals listed on Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2 without separate retention applications, subject to OCP Procedures. Those procedures require each professional to file a declaration within 30 days, give reviewing parties 14 days to object, and set monthly fee caps averaged over any three-month period. The filing runs 15 pages.

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              Case 22-10951-CTG   Doc 188-2   Filed 11/01/22   Page 1 of 15




                                      Exhibit 2

                                       Redline




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                              UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
                                   DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

------------------------------------------------------------ x
In re                                                        :        Chapter 11
                                                             :
KABBAGE, INC. d/b/a KSERVICING et al., :                              Case No. 22-10951 (CTG)
                                                             :
                                                             :        (Jointly Administered)
                  Debtors.   1                               :
------------------------------------------------------------ x        Re: Docket No. ____110

                   ORDER AUTHORIZING DEBTORS TO EMPLOY
              PROFESSIONALS USED IN ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS

                  Upon the motion, dated October 17, 2022 (the “Motion”)2 of Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a

KServicing and its debtor affiliates, as debtors and debtors in possession in the above-captioned

chapter 11 cases (collectively, the “Debtors”), pursuant to sections 105(a), 327, and 330 of the

Bankruptcy Code for entry of an order authorizing the Debtors to employ Ordinary Course

Professionals, effective as of the Petition Date, without the submission of separate employment

applications or the issuance of separate retention orders for each professional, all as more fully set

forth in the Motion; and upon consideration of the First Day Declaration; and this Court having

jurisdiction to consider the Motion and the relief requested therein pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157

and 1334, and the Amended Standing Order of Reference entered by the United States District

Court for the District of Delaware, dated February 29, 2012; and consideration of the Motion and

the requested relief being a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b); and venue being

proper before this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409; and due and proper notice of the



1 The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases, along with the last four digits of each Debtor’s federal tax identification

  number, as applicable are: Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a KServicing (3937); Kabbage Canada Holdings, LLC (N/A); Kabbage
  Asset Securitization LLC (N/A); Kabbage Asset Funding 2017-A LLC (4803); Kabbage Asset Funding 2019-A
  LLC (8973); and Kabbage Diameter, LLC (N/A). Kabbage is a trademark of American Express used under license;
  Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a KServicing is not affiliated with American Express. The Debtors’ mailing and service address
  is 925B Peachtree Street NE, Suite 383, Atlanta, GA 30309.
2 Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Motion.




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Motion having been provided; and such notice having been adequate and appropriate under the

circumstances, and it appearing that no other or further notice need be provided; and this Court

having reviewed the Motion; and upon any hearing held on the Motion; and all objections, if any,

to the Motion having been withdrawn, resolved, or overruled; and this Court having determined

that the legal and factual bases set forth in the Motion establish just cause for the relief granted

herein; and it appearing that the relief requested in the Motion is in the best interests of the Debtors,

their estates, creditors, and all parties in interest; and upon all of the proceedings had before this

Court and after due deliberation and sufficient cause appearing therefor,

                  IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT

                  1.          The Motion is granted as set forth herein.

                  2.          The Debtors are authorized, but not directed, pursuant to sections 105(a),

327, and 330 of the Bankruptcy Code, to retain, employ, and compensate the Ordinary Course

Professionals listed on Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2 annexed hereto , as such may be supplemented in

accordance with Paragraph f below, subject to the following OCP Procedures, effective as of the

Petition Date:

                  a.          Pursuant to sections 105(a), 327, and 330 of the Bankruptcy Code, the
                              Debtors shall be authorized to employ the Ordinary Course Professionals
                              listed on Exhibit 1 annexed to this Order hereto (the “Tier 1 Ordinary
                              Course Professionals”) and the Ordinary Course Professionals listed on
                              Exhibit 2 hereto (the “Tier 2 Ordinary Course Professionals”) in
                              accordance with these OCP Procedures, effective as of the Petition Date.
                              To the extent that additional Ordinary Course Professionals are added to
                              Exhibit 1 or Exhibit 2 pursuant to the procedures set forth in Paragraph f
                              below, their employment will be effective on a date in accordance with said
                              procedures.

                  b.          Each Within five (5) business days after the date of entry of this Order, the
                              Debtors shall serve this Order on each Ordinary Course Professional.
                              Thereafter, each Ordinary Course Professional shall provide the Debtors’
                              attorneys within 30 days after the later of (i) the date of entry of this Order
                              or (ii) the date on which the Ordinary Course Professional commences



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                              rendering services for the Debtors, with a declaration, substantially in the
                              form annexed as Exhibit 2 3 hereto (the “OCP Declaration”).

                  c.          The Debtors’ attorneys shall file the OCP Declaration with the Court and
                              serve a copy upon (i) Richard L. Schepacarter, Office of the United States
                              Trustee (Richard.Schepacarter@usdoj.gov), (ii) Rosa Sierra-Fox, Office of
                              the United States Trustee (Rosa.Sierra-Fox@usdoj.gov), and (iii) counsel
                              for the Creditors’ Committee, if any (collectively, the “Reviewing
                              Parties”).

                  d.          The Reviewing Parties shall have 14 days after service of the OCP
                              Declaration (the “Objection Deadline”) to serve upon the Debtors, the
                              other Reviewing Parties, and the relevant Ordinary Course Professional a
                              written objection to the retention, employment, or compensation of the
                              Ordinary Course Professional based on the contents of the OCP Declaration
                              (an “Objection”). The Objection Deadline shall be conspicuously stated
                              on the OCP Declaration.

                  e.          If no Objection is served by the Objection Deadline, the retention,
                              employment, and compensation of the Ordinary Course Professional shall
                              be deemed approved pursuant to section 327 of the Bankruptcy Code
                              without the need for a hearing and without further order of this Court;
                              provided, however, that if an Objection is served by the Objection Deadline
                              and such Objection cannot be resolved within 20 calendar days, the Debtors
                              shall schedule the matter for a hearing before this Court on the next
                              regularly-scheduled hearing date or such other date otherwise agreeable to
                              the Ordinary Course Professional, the Debtors, and the objecting party. The
                              Debtors may seek to retain additional Ordinary Course Professionals
                              throughout these cases by (i) including each additional Ordinary Course
                              Professional on a supplement to Exhibit 1 hereto shall not pay any fees and
                              expenses to any Ordinary Course Professional unless (a) such Ordinary
                              Course Professional has executed its OCP Declaration and such OCP
                              Declaration was filed with the Court and served on the Reviewing Parties,
                              (b) the Objection Deadline has expired, and (c) no timely Objection is
                              pending. If a timely Objection is served, no payment shall be made until
                              such Objection is either resolved or withdrawn or overruled by the Court.

                  e.f.        The Debtors may seek to retain additional Ordinary Course Professionals
                              throughout these cases by (i) including each additional Ordinary Course
                              Professional on a supplement to Exhibit 1 or Exhibit 2 hereto, as
                              applicable, that is filed with this Court and served on the Reviewing Parties
                              and (ii) having such additional Ordinary Course Professional comply with
                              the OCP Procedures. The approved retention of the additional Ordinary
                              Course Professional(s) will be effective as of the expiration of the Objection
                              Deadline or, if a timely Objection is filed, upon resolution of such
                              objectionObjection.




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                  f.g.        Once an Ordinary Course Professional is retained in accordance with these
                              OCP Procedures, the Debtors may pay such Ordinary Course Professional
                              100% of the fees and 100% of the expenses incurred, upon the submission
                              to, and approval by, the Debtors of an appropriate invoice setting forth in
                              reasonable detail the nature of the services rendered and the expenses
                              actually incurred (without prejudice to the Debtors’ right to dispute any such
                              invoices); provided, however, that the a Tier 1 Ordinary Course
                              Professional’s total compensation and reimbursement shall not exceed
                              $50,000 35,000 per month on average over any three-month period on a
                              rolling basis (the “Tier 1 Cap”), and a Tier 2 Ordinary Course
                              Professional’s total compensation and reimbursement shall not exceed
                              $50,000 per month on average over any three-month period on a rolling
                              basis (the “Tier 2 Cap” and together with the Tier 1 Cap, the “Monthly
                              Fee Cap”).

                  g.h.        In the event that an Ordinary Course Professional’s fees and expenses
                              exceed the applicable Monthly Fee Cap for any month during these chapter
                              11 cases, but the Debtors believe the Ordinary Course Professional should
                              not otherwise be required to follow the payment procedure applicable to the
                              formally retained professionals, the Debtors may seek the agreement of the
                              Reviewing Parties to a higher cap for any such Ordinary Course
                              Professional. If the Debtors are able to obtain such agreement of the
                              Reviewing Parties, the agreement would be evidenced by the filing of a
                              notice of increased Monthly Fee Cap (the “Cap Increase Notice”), and the
                              increased Monthly Fee Cap shall be deemed approved upon the filing of
                              such Cap Increase Notice, without further action by this Court. Absent such
                              an agreement of the Reviewing Parties, if the applicable Monthly Fee Cap
                              is exceeded, such Ordinary Course Professional must file a fee application
                              (a “Fee Application”) and apply for allowance of the full amount of its
                              compensation and reimbursement for the applicable time period in
                              compliance with sections 330 and 331 of the Bankruptcy Code and the
                              applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Rules, the Local Rules, and, subject
                              to the OCP Procedures, any other procedures and orders of this Court. The
                              U.S. Trustee reserves the right to request that any Ordinary Course
                              Professional that is regularly exceeding the applicable Monthly Fee Cap be
                              the subject of a retention application pursuant to section 327 of the
                              Bankruptcy Code. Any such Ordinary Course Professional that is an
                              attorney shall make a reasonable effort to comply with the U.S. Trustee’s
                              requests for information and disclosures as set forth in the Guidelines for
                              Reviewing Applications for Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses
                              Filed under 11 U.S.C. § 330 by Attorneys in Larger Chapter 11 Cases
                              (effective as of November 1, 2013) in connection with such Fee Application
                              and/or retention application, and shall provide corresponding LEDES date
                              or searchable format for the respective invoices.

                  h.i.        Each Fee Application shall be served upon the Reviewing Parties. The
                              Reviewing Parties shall then have 15 days to object to the Fee Application,


                                                        4
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                              which deadline shall be set forth on the Fee Application. If, after 15 days,
                              no Objection is filed, the fees and expenses requested in the Fee Application
                              shall be deemed approved, and the Ordinary Course Professional may be
                              paid 100% of its fees and expenses without the need for further action from
                              such Ordinary Course Professional.

                  i.j.        At three-month intervals during the pendency of these chapter 11 cases
                              (each, a “Quarter”), beginning with the Quarter ending December 31,
                              2022, the Debtors shall file with this Court and serve on the Reviewing
                              Parties, no later than 30 days after the last day of such Quarter, a statement
                              that shall include the following information for each Ordinary Course
                              Professional: (i) the name of the Ordinary Course Professional, (ii) the
                              amounts invoiced and paid as compensation for services rendered and
                              reimbursement of expenses incurred by that Ordinary Course Professional
                              during the reported Quarter broken down by month, (iii) the aggregate
                              amount of postpetition payments made to that Ordinary Course Professional
                              to date, and (iv) a general description of the services rendered by that
                              Ordinary Course Professional (the “Quarterly Statement”). In the event
                              that a Quarterly Statement shows that an Ordinary Course Professional
                              and/or the Debtors are not complying with the applicable Monthly Fee Cap
                              (as may be modified by the Cap Increase Notice), any rights of the U.S.
                              Trustee are reserved.

                  k.          To the extent any Ordinary Course Professional is required to file a Fee
                              Application pursuant to the OCP Procedures, any such payments shall be
                              subject to section 328(c) of the Bankruptcy Code.

                  3.          Entry of this Order and approval of the OCP Procedures does not affect the

Debtors’ ability to (i) dispute any invoice submitted by an Ordinary Course Professional or

(ii) retain additional Ordinary Course Professionals from time to time as needed, in accordance

with the OCP Procedures, and the Debtors reserve all of their rights with respect thereto.

                  4.          The monetary caps set forth in the OCP Procedures are without prejudice to

the Debtors’ ability to request that this Court increase the terms of such caps at a later time.

                  5.          The form of OCP Declaration is approved.

                  6.          Nothing contained in the Motion or this Order nor any payment made

pursuant to the authority granted by this Order is intended to be or shall be construed as (i) an

admission as to the validity of any claim against the Debtors, (ii) a waiver of the Debtors’ or any



                                                        5
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appropriate party in interest’s rights to dispute the amount of, basis for, or validity of any claim

against the Debtors, (iii) a waiver of any claims or causes of action which may exist against any

creditor or interest holder, or (iv) an approval, assumption, adoption, or rejection of any agreement,

contract, lease, program, or policy between the Debtors and any third party under section 365 of

the Bankruptcy Code.

                  7.          All time periods referenced in this Order shall be calculated in accordance

with Bankruptcy Rule 9006(a).

                  8.          The Debtors are authorized to take all actions necessary or appropriate to

effectuate the relief granted in this Order.

                  9.          This Court shall retain jurisdiction to hear and determine all matters arising

from or related to the implementation, interpretation, or enforcement of this Order.




                                                        6
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                                                                 Exhibit 1

                                              List of Tier 1 Ordinary Course Professionals

                        Name                                      Address                                General Description

                                                               950 F Street NW                Litigation counselcounsel—responding to civil
                 Alston & Bird LLP
                                                           Washington, D.C. 20004                               subpoenas

                                                             901 15th Street, NW               Government Legacy counsel representing the
            Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
                                                           Washington, D.C. 20005              Debtors in government investigationscounsel

                                                    2625 Piedmont Road, N.E. Suite 56-330      Litigation counsel representing the Debtors in
             Thomas E. Austin, Jr. LLC
                                                            Atlanta, Georgia 30324                         borrower bankruptcies

                                                         3630 Peachtree Road NE #600          Legacy tax and accounting advisors advising on
              Windham Brannon, LLC
                                                              Atlanta, GA 30326                              2021 tax returns




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                                                Exhibit 2

                              List of Tier 2 Ordinary Course Professionals

                Name                             Address                     General Description

                                              1221 6th Avenue           Litigation counsel representing the
           Dentons US LLP                                                Debtors in lawsuits, including a
                                         New York, New York 10020               putative class action

                                                                            Regulatory counselCounsel
                                              1250 6th Avenue               representing the Debtors in
         McGuireWoods LLP                                               regulatory matters, including advice
                                         New York, New York 10020          on matters related to the Small
                                                                               Business Association
                                                                        Litigation counsel
      Thomas E. Austin, Jr. LLC        2625 Piedmont Road, N.E. Suite
                                                  56-330
                                           Atlanta, Georgia 30324
                                                                        Tax and accounting advisors
       Windham Brannon, LLC             3630 Peachtree Road NE #600
                                             Atlanta, GA 30326




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                                      Exhibit 3

                                      Exhibit 2

                                   OCP Declaration




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                                UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
                                     DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

------------------------------------------------------------ x
In re                                                        :       Chapter 11
                                                             :
KABBAGE, INC. d/b/a KSERVICING et al., :                             Case No. 22-10951 (CTG)
                                                             :
                                                             :
                  Debtors.   1                               :       (Jointly Administered)
------------------------------------------------------------ x

DECLARATION AND DISCLOSURE STATEMENT OF ______________________,
ON BEHALF OF

                  I, _______________, hereby declare, pursuant to section 1746 of title 28 of the

United States Code, that the following is true to the best of my knowledge, information, and

belief:

                  1.          I am a [insert title] of [firm] located at [street, city, state, zip code]

(the “Firm”).

                  2.          This declaration (the “Declaration”) is submitted in accordance with the

Order Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 105(a), 327, and 330 Authorizing Debtors to Employ

Professionals Used in Ordinary Course of Business [Docket No. ___] (the “OCP Order”).

Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed

to such terms in the OCP Order.

                  3.          Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a KServicing and its debtor affiliates, as debtors and

debtors in possession (collectively, the “Debtors”), have requested that the Firm provide

[description of type of services] services to the Debtors, and the Firm has consented to provide


1 The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases, along with the last four digits of each Debtor’s federal tax identification

 number, as applicable are: Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a KServicing (3937); Kabbage Canada Holdings, LLC (N/A); Kabbage
 Asset Securitization LLC (N/A); Kabbage Asset Funding 2017-A LLC (4803); Kabbage Asset Funding 2019-A
 LLC (8973); and Kabbage Diameter, LLC (N/A). Kabbage is a trademark of American Express used under license;
 Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a KServicing is not affiliated with American Express. The Debtors’ mailing and service address
 is 925B Peachtree Street NE, Suite 383, Atlanta, GA 30309.




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such services. The Firm [IS/IS NOT] a legal services firm. [IF THE FIRM IS A LEGAL

SERVICES FIRM, PLEASE STATE THE SPECIFIC LEGAL SERVICES THE FIRM IS

PROVIDING TO THE DEBTORS.]

                   4.      [The Firm [HAS/HAS NOT] provided services to the Debtors prior to

Petition Date.]2

                   5.      [DESCRIBE HOW FIRM WILL BILL THE ESTATE, E.G.,

HOURLY, FLAT FEE, CONTINGENCY, ETC., AND THE APPLICABLE RATES]

                   4.6.    The Firm may have performed services in the past and may perform services

in the future, in matters unrelated to these chapter 11 cases, for persons who are parties in interest

in the Debtors’ chapter 11 cases. As part of its customary practice, the Firm is retained in cases,

proceedings, and transactions involving many different parties, some of whom may represent or

be claimants or employees of the Debtors, or other parties-in-interest in these chapter 11 cases.

The Firm does not perform services for any such person in connection with these chapter 11 cases.

In addition, the Firm does not have any relationship with any such person, its attorneys, or

accountants that would be adverse to the Debtors or their estates [with respect to the matters on

which the Firm is to be retained.]4],3 except as set forth herein. [PROVIDE ADDITIONAL

DISCLOSURES DESCRIBING SUCH RELATIONSHIPS, IF ANY EXIST].

                   5.7.    Neither I, nor any principal of, or professional employed by the Firm has

agreed to share or will share any portion of the compensation to be received from the Debtors with

any other person other than the principals and regular employees of the Firm.




2 This clause shall only be included if the Ordinary Course Professional is an attorney.
4 This clause shall only be included if the Ordinary Course Professional is an attorney.


3 This clause shall only be included if the Ordinary Course Professional is an attorney.




                                                          2
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                   6.8.    Neither I, nor any principal of, or professional employed by the Firm,

insofar as I have been able to ascertain, holds or represents any interest adverse to the Debtors or

their estates, [with respect to the matters on which the Firm is to be retained.]54

                   7.9.    The Debtors owe the Firm $________ for prepetition services, the payment

of which is subject to the limitations contained in the Bankruptcy Code. [FOR NON-LEGAL

SERVICES FIRMS ONLY ADD: The Firm has agreed to waive all unpaid amounts for prepetition

services.]5

                   10.     For purposes of making the disclosures herein, the Firm searched the list of

parties in interest attached hereto as Exhibit A in its conflict check system.

                   8.11.   As of the Petition Date, the Firm [was/was notWAS/WAS NOT] party to

an agreement for indemnification with the Debtors. [A copy of such agreement is attached as

Exhibit A B to this Declaration.]

                   9.12.   The Firm is conducting further inquiries regarding its retention by any

creditors of the Debtors, and upon conclusion of that inquiry, or at any time during the period of

its employment, if the Firm should discover any facts bearing on the matters described herein, the

Firm will supplement the information contained in this Declaration.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Executed on:                                  , 2022




                                                       By:




54 This clause shall only be included if the Ordinary Course Professional is an attorney.
5 This clause shall only be included if the Ordinary Course Professional is not providing legal services or, if the
  Ordinary Course Professional is providing legal services, it did not provide such services prior to the Petition Date.



                                                           3
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                                        EXHIBIT A

                                  List of Parties in Interest




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                                                    [Exhibit B

                                        Indemnification Agreement]1




1 This exhibit shall only be included if the Ordinary Course Professional was party to an agreement for indemnification

 with the Debtors.




                                                          2
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