Changes are afoot to the statutory regime governing special administrations for regulated water companies (the SAR) following the publication of a suite of new legislation. Impact of the changes on pension trustees Further details of the changes are set out below, but perhaps the most significant change for creditors generally, and pension trustees in particular, … Continue Reading
The recent case of Re Lloyds British Testing Ltd [2023] is a reminder not to forget that in the right circumstances a director’s occupational pension pot might be a valuable source of funds that an Insolvency Practitioner (IP) can access to recover an unpaid debt due from a former director. Background In this case, an … Continue Reading
The Pensions Schemes Act received Royal Assent yesterday (11 February). For those involved in restructuring it is important to be aware that the Act introduces new offences, carrying hefty fines and the possibility of imprisonment that apply to “any person”. Given the wide scope of the drafting the new offences could capture directors, insolvency practitioners, … Continue Reading
Dealing with pensions in insolvency can be challenging for insolvency practitioners (“IPs”) and the Pension Scheme Bill (“Bill”) presents another. Whilst a prudent insolvent practitioner should not be unduly alarmed, s114 of the Bill inserts a new section 80B into the Pensions Act 2004 which gives the Pensions Regulator (tPR) power to issue insolvency practitioners … Continue Reading
There has always been a tension between protecting the interests of defined benefit pension schemes and insolvency given on the one hand The Pensions Regulator (TPR) seeks to protect the interests of pension scheme members and the Pension Protection Fund and on the other, the insolvency regime seeks to protect the interests of creditors as … Continue Reading
Over the past few months, we have commented on the steel industry crisis and some of the employment law issues arising from it in the context of insolvency. The article written by our Pensions team here discusses the Government’s proposals to assist the British Steel Pension Scheme and its struggling principal employer Tata Steel, one of … Continue Reading
The director at the heart of the Carrington Wire pension fund deficit saga has been disqualified for a period of 12 years. Background We have previously reported on the background to the Carrington Wire Limited (“CWL”) collapse and the Pensions Regulator’s actions in issuing warning notices to CWL’s former Russian parent company (OAO Severstal), and … Continue Reading
Last week Judge Klein approved Stockton, California’s plan of adjustment allowing the city to exit bankruptcy without addressing its largest liability – pensions. Stockton’s plan called for budget cuts, haircuts for bondholders, and a sales tax increase approved by voters last fall in reliance, in part, on the City’s promises to hire more police. While … Continue Reading
