The European Advocate General has today given his opinion in the “Woolworths case” (and two other cases) on the meaning of “establishment” for the purposes of determining when the duty to consult appropriate representatives is triggered under the European Collective Redundancies Directive (the Directive).

In Europe each year there are an estimated 200,000 corporate insolvencies. More than half of the companies set up do not survive their first five years of trading and more than 1.7 million jobs are lost every year as a result. One in five of those companies will have international operations that cross national borders.

The European Union (EU) has sought to introduce an element of harmonization across its Member States, to facilitate the effective operation of cross-border insolvencies.

Background

The past eighteen months have seen a marked increase in the use of the Company Voluntary Arrangement (“CVA”) by retailers to reduce their lease liabilities and win the release of onerous parent company guarantees, with several high street names going through the process. Although this practice received cautious support from landlords, real concern continues to be voiced over the practice of “guarantee stripping”.

NEW RULES ON PRE-ADMINISTRATION COSTS

Insolvency Practitioners have been eagerly awaiting the implementation on 6 April 2010 of the Insolvency (Amendment) Rules 2010 (“New Rules”). In addition to the many modernising changes made by the New Rules is the long awaited inclusion of what was believed to be a statutory entitlement to recover pre-appointment costs such as in negotiating a pre-pack. as an expense of the administration (New Rule 2.67(1)(h)).

The European Commission (EC) yesterday approved the restructuring plan of Northern Rock plc. The plan will split the company into two separate companies. The new Northern Rock plc will consist of a new savings and mortgage bank that will hold and service all customer savings accounts and some existing mortgage accounts.

De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) began the process of appointing receivers Monday for DSB Bank NA (DSB) after DSB experienced a “run” when rumors of its insolvency spread via Twitter and other outlets.

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced yesterday that it has filed civil fraud charges against several entities and individuals who operate the Reserve Primary Fund, including its founder Bruce Bent and his son Bruce Bent II, “for failing to provide key material facts to investors and trustees about the fund’s vulnerability after as