Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic and associated economic downturn, the number of companies facing the prospect of insolvency, or being struck off the Register of Companies, is increasing daily. Whilst the rules on striking off have been relaxed by Companies House where late delivery of accounts etc has been caused by COVID, these are only temporary measures. Indeed, the compulsory striking off process has recently resumed for companies that Companies House don’t consider are currently operating, so it may be that normal practice isn’t far away.

The liquidation of Thomas Cook Group last month – and the ensuing cancellation of all flights and repatriation of 140,000+ customers – has prompted fresh scrutiny of the UK’s approach to airline insolvency.

Back in March, we highlighted the launch of a consultation following the UK government’s proposal to introduce a new “secondary preferential” status for HMRC. Further details of the proposal can be found here : HMRC launches consultation on new “secondary preferential” status.

An old friend

On 25 October 2017, the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AIB) published its insolvency statistics for the latest quarter, July to September 2017.