The scheme of arrangement (Rescue Plan) prepared by the examiner of Mac Interiors Limited (Company) has not been approved by the High Court following strong objections from the Revenue Commissioners (Revenue).
In its challenge, Revenue argued that there had been an error in “class composition” or, in other words, an error in the classification of creditors that voted on the Rescue Plan.
Class Composition
With effect from 9 May 2022, a new Order 74C of the Rules of the Superior Courts came into operation. Order 74C facilitates the operation of the Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Act 2021, which inserted a new Part 10A into the Companies Act 2014 (Part 10A).
The Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Bill 2021 (Bill) detailing the government's proposed rescue process for small and micro companies (SCARP) has successfully passed through the Oireachtas and is expected to be signed into law shortly by the President. The legislation will be commenced at a future date by the Minister.
Background
The European Union (Insurance and Reinsurance) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (2021 Regulations) will come into operation on 30 June 2021, giving effect to Directive (EU) 2019/2177 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2019 (2019 Directive).
The 2019 Directive amends the Solvency II Directive (2009/138/EC), the MiFID II Directive (2014/65/EU) and the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (2015/849/EU).
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has published the outline of proposed legislation for a dedicated rescue and restructuring framework for insolvent or potentially insolvent small and micro companies – see here.
On 24 September 2020, the European Commission (the Commission) relaunched its Capital Markets Union project with the publication of its ambitious new initiative,"A Capital Markets Union for people and businesses – new action plan" (the Action Plan). The purpose of the Action Plan is to reduce the current fragmented approach in financial markets and to tackle some of the remaining barriers to a single European capital market.
Examinership A number of significant decisions were made by the High Court and Court of Appeal relating to different aspects of the examinership process in 2017. |
William Fry understands that, on 30 January 2017, having regard for the recent implementation of the Solvency II regime, EIOPA's Board of Supervisors adopted a decision (the "Decision") which will replace EIOPA's General Protocol relating to the collaboration of the insurance supervisory authorities of the Member States of the European Union (March 2008 Edition).
We understand that the Decision with replace the General Protocol as of 1 May 2017 (and will be available on EIOPA's website shortly).
In the interim, the General Protocol (March 2008 Edition) continues to apply.
Congil Construction Limited & Companies Acts: Mannion -v- Connolly & Anor [2013] IEHC 544
On the 28 November 2013 the High Court restricted two directors of an insolvent construction company, Congil Construction Limited, for a period of five years.
The High Court has granted a creditor’s petition to wind-up a company, notwithstanding the claim that the company could survive as a “going concern” following a restructuring, on the grounds that such a claim should have been advanced by way of application for examinership: In re Heatsolve Ltd [2013] IEHC 399.