The temporary restrictions on winding-up petitions brought in under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (“CIGA”) are wider than originally envisaged when first announced by the government in April 2020 and have now been extended until 31 March 2021.
The restrictions initially related to the period 1 March 2020 – 30 September 2020 (referred to as the ‘relevant period’). On 24 September, it was announced that the relevant period would be extended until 31 December 2020 and it has now been extended again until 31 March 2021.
Jaeger and Peacocks are the latest in a (seemingly) ever lengthening list of High Street stores who have fallen victim to the pandemic, with both stores entering administration last week.
FRP Advisory have been appointed as administrators and are seeking a sale of the businesses which they note are both "attractive brands" for a potential purchaser.
The damage that the COVID pandemic has done to the food and beverage sector has been widely reported. Plenty of well-known and well-loved restaurants and pubs have entered into an insolvency process or formally restructured their debts in an effort to survive.
Sky News reports today that the Insolvency Service is considering reforms to insolvency laws which may include a moratorium on winding up petitions against companies and the suspension of rules on wrongful trading.