In a bid to reinforce the Capital Markets Union (the “CMU”), on the 7th December 2022 the European Commission unveiled the “Proposal for a Directive Of The European Parliament And Of The Council harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law” [1] (the “Proposed Directive”).
Why is Subsidiary Legislation 386.24 Companies Act (Suspension of Filing for Dissolution and Winding Up) Regulations (the “Regulations”) still in force?
Almost four years down the line, practitioners cannot help but question exactly why the Regulations are still in force now that most (if not all) pandemic measures have been totally lifted.
The stark reality of the COVID-19 pandemic on companies, like natural persons, is not a merry one. Akin to natural persons, while some companies will recover, others will not be so fortunate. While companies can indeed use this time to foster innovative business strategies, they need to have the funds to do so. If they don’t? Insolvency (as bleak as it may sound) might be the inevitable route for some, despite their best intentions. Company directors cannot simply abandon ship when things go south.
Legal Notice 373 of 2020 The Companies Act (Suspension of Filing for Dissolution and Winding Up) Regulations (the “Regulations”) was published on the 15th of September 2020. Back in March, the Conference of European Restructuring and Insolvency Law (CERIL) published an Executive Statement highlighting the importance of countries across Europe to adapt their insolvency legislation in light of the “current extraordinary economic situation” the world has found itself in as a result of COVID-19.