Tag Archives: creditors

Is the UK insolvency regime equipped for the current political and economic climate?

An effective and well-equipped insolvency and restructuring regime gives confidence to investors and financiers, enabling credit to flow through to businesses and boost economic activity, growth and innovation. In 1999, following the Asian financial crisis, the World Bank carried out a review of the international regimes to establish a set of key principles for effective … Continue Reading

German Court rejects the “bow wave theory” (“Bugwellentheorie”) in test for company illiquidity

Under German law, there are strict legal obligations for the managing directors of an insolvent company to file for insolvency. Failure to comply exposes a managing director to civil and criminal liability. It is therefore important for managing directors to know how to test whether their company is insolvent. One of the legal reasons for insolvency … Continue Reading

Parent guarantees in the insolvency of a German subsidiary – claw back risks

A recent ruling of the German Federal Civil Court (Bundesgerichtshof (“BGH”)) is a reminder of the risks which shareholders of a German company can face in an insolvency of their German subsidiary. Under the German Insolvency Code (“InsO”), claims for repayment of a loan granted by a shareholder who holds more than 10% of the … Continue Reading

The ongoing deconstruction of Carillion

Media attention has waned from the initial deluge of front-page headlines regarding the Carillion collapse. It would therefore be easy to be ignorant of the ongoing disintegration of the web of Carillion companies beneath Carillion Plc, the ultimate parent company of the Carillion group, which (according to its latest accounts) holds interests in over 350 subsidiaries … Continue Reading

Carillion’s Insolvency – How to Protect Yourself

Following our post on the failure of Carillion yesterday, Ray O’Connor of our Construction team has written the following article “Carillion’s Insolvency – How to Protect Yourself” which looks at practical ways forward for any sub-contractor, employer/developer or funder involved in a project with Carillion. In the event any advice is required on any issues … Continue Reading

The deconstruction of Carillion

On 15 January 2018, Carillion, the UK’s second-largest builder and one of the Government’s largest contractors, was placed into compulsory liquidation and the Official Receiver was appointed as liquidator, with Michael John Andrew Jervis, David James Kelly, David Christian Chubb, Peter Dickens, David Matthew Hammond and Russell Downs of PwC being appointed as special managers … Continue Reading

The woes of Toys R Us – will the “magical place” have its Christmas dreams come true?

“There’s a magical place, we’re on our way there, with toys in their millions, all under one roof – it’s called… Toys R Us!” The lyrics resonate with millions worldwide. The advert is as iconic as Coca Cola’s “Holidays Are Coming” commercial or the Sainsbury’s “Christmas is for sharing” World War 1 cinematic ad. Sadly, … Continue Reading

A Fight over the Runway II – Monarch Successful on Appeal

Following on from our previous blog A Fight Over the Runway – Monarch Administrators Lose High Court Battle, the latest development in the saga is the recent Court of Appeal decision in Monarch Airlines Ltd v Airport Coordination Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 1892. Overturning the decision of the High Court, the Court of Appeal held that Monarch … Continue Reading

EU Proposals for Harmonisation of Insolvency Practitioners and Judges

Much has already been written about the proposal for the “Second Chance” directive (“Proposal“) published in November 2016 which is still being debated by the EU bodies – and rightly so. Harmonisation of insolvency law across the EU is needed as one in four insolvency proceedings is a cross-border insolvency and creditors need to know what to … Continue Reading

English Scheme of Arrangement approved for Luxembourg-registered company

The English High Court has sanctioned a scheme of arrangement for Algeco Scotsman PIK SA, a Luxembourg-incorporated company, after the creditors consented to the New York governing law and jurisdiction clause being altered in favour of the jurisdiction of the English courts. The issues discussed were: the fair representation of a class of creditors; cross-jurisdictional schemes; and early tender fees offered … Continue Reading

A Fight Over the Runway – Monarch Administrators Lose High Court Battle

An out-of-hours office appointment of an administrator, although not unusual, is not a regular occurrence in the world of insolvency. It is however, exactly what happened at 4am on Monday 2 October, as Britain’s longest surviving airline brand ‘Monarch’ entered administration. The collapse of the airline comes as a result of mounting cost pressures in … Continue Reading

Steering to Safe Harbour – Changes to Australian Insolvency Laws Herald a New Era for the Turnaround of Distressed Companies

Australia’s corporate insolvency regime has undergone significant reform with the passing of the Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Enterprise Incentives No. 2) Bill 2017 (the Bill) through both houses of parliament. One of the key elements of the reforms is the introduction of a “safe harbour” for company directors, operating as an exception to the civil … Continue Reading

Reporting the misconduct of companies, directors and bankrupts

There are various ways misconduct can be reported in respect of companies and individuals. Establishing which authority has the power to conduct investigations of wrongdoing depends to a certain extent on the status of the companies and individuals. The Insolvency Service is empowered by law as the proper authority to investigate transgressions such as serious corporate abuse and the conduct of … Continue Reading

Australian investors gain significant win against Standard & Poor’s

Investors in Australia, represented by Squire Patton Boggs in Sydney, have made history again with another big win over Standard & Poor’s (S&P). They were granted leave to pursue a “tort of deceit” claim, alleging that S&P intentionally altered its ratings methodology to achieve higher ratings in order to serve its business objectives. This is the … Continue Reading

Hope for easier restructuring of SMEs: German Institute of Public Auditors propose new standard Restructuring Opinions

German insolvency laws are very strict. The management of an insolvent company is under strict obligations to file for insolvency, and failure to comply with such obligation may result in civil and criminal liability. Other stakeholders, like financing banks or suppliers, who are dealing with a distressed company, require documentation that their contract partner can … Continue Reading

Declaration of debts by French debtors- creditor vigilance is still required!

Three years ago, the Commercial Code amended the procedure for declaring debts in France with the aim of simplifying the management of insolvency proceedings. Before this reform, the only way for creditors (excluding employees) to declare their debts was to send their proof of debt to the receiver within 2 months (or 4 months for those living outside … Continue Reading

Employee Benefit Trusts and insolvency – the next big thing?

Remuneration schemes involving Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) have become more prevalent over the last 20 years, often as a way of seeking to remunerate key employees without making pay as you earn or national insurance contributions. Given the developments highlighted below, insolvency practitioners are advised to investigate such schemes in matters coming across their desks to see … Continue Reading

Schemes of Arrangement: Share-splitting unsuccessful in blocking a takeover scheme

In a corporate world where the capital structures of companies are becoming increasingly complex, schemes of arrangements under the Companies Act 2006 have established themselves as the restructuring procedure of choice for many distressed companies. This popularity is evidenced by the fact that schemes of arrangement have been increasingly used by overseas companies wishing to restructure their … Continue Reading

Take “Special” care: Not all Insolvency Rules change on 6 April

The wait is almost over! As reported in our recent blog Rules of Engagement for Creditors, the Insolvency Rules (England and Wales) 2016 (“IR2016”) are about to arrive heralding procedural reforms effective (subject to transitional provisions) on 6th April 2017. Whilst most people’s attention will be on the changes introduced by IR2016, it should be … Continue Reading

Rules of Engagement for Creditors – New Insolvency Rules In Force 6 April 2017

On 6 April 2017, the new Insolvency Rules come into force which will affect creditors’ rights in most insolvency procedures. The changes are designed to ensure insolvency processes are as efficient and streamlined as possible in order to maximise returns to creditors by reducing costs whilst retaining safeguards to avoid abuse or injustice. Whether you are … Continue Reading

Prohibited names and partnerships under Section 216

The recent case of Re Newtons Coaches [2016] EWHC 3068 considered whether a partnership falls within the remit of s.216 Insolvency Act 1986 (“IA 86”). The case looked at what s.216 is designed to prevent and the nature of partnerships in the context of both the Insolvent Partnerships Order 1994 (“IPO 94”) and the IA … Continue Reading

Wrongful Trading – The Importance of Quantifying Loss

The recent successful appeal in Brooks and another (Joint Liquidators of Robin Hood Centre plc in liquidation) v Armstrong and another [2016] EWHC 2893 (Ch), [2016] All ER (D) 117 (Nov) has clarified and highlighted the complexities of bringing a wrongful trading claim and the importance of correctly quantifying losses for which directors can be made … Continue Reading

Christmas on Credit

With the UK festive season now merrily in swing, credit cards maxed out on Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargains and Christmas shopping well under way, will the lure of the Christmas spirit be enough to tip some people over the edge into unmanageable debt? For many the holiday season is a time to adopt … Continue Reading
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