Nikola Strands SEC’s $80 Million Claim Atop List of Unpaid Bills

Nikola Corp.’s bankruptcy included an unusual leader atop the customary list of biggest potential losers — the US Securities and Exchange Commission — and the agency’s chances of getting its claim fully paid might be dim.

The SEC ranked No. 1 on the roster of largest unsecured creditors when Nikola, a failed maker of EV trucks, sought court protection on Wednesday, with the regulator owed about $80 million, according to the company’s Chapter 11 petition.

The debt reflects what’s left of a $125 million enforcement settlementsigned in December 2021. It’s unclear whether the company will have to ...