When an employer is insolvent and administrators appointed, job losses are often an inevitable consequence. In this blog we look at the legal obligations arising where redundancies meet the threshold for collective consultation, and the implications for administrators arising out of the recent Supreme Court in the case of R (on the application of Palmer) v Northern Derbyshire Magistrates Court and another.
When does the legal obligation to collectively consult apply?
On 24 February, the Government published draft regulations that, if implemented, will impose new restrictions on pre-pack administration sales to connected parties. For all `substantial disposals' (which will include `pre-pack' sales) to connected parties, taking place within eight weeks of the administrators' appointment, the administrators will either need creditor consent or a report from an independent `evaluator'.
Context
On Friday, the California Department of Financial Institutions closed Sonoma Valley Bank, headquartered in Sonoma, California, and appointed the FDIC as receiver.
On Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed Community National Bank at Bartow [http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/release/2010-101.htm], headquartered in Bartow, Florida, and Independent National Bank, headquartered in Ocala, Florida, and appointed the FDIC as receiver.
On Friday, the California Department of Financial Institutions closedButte Community Bank, headquartered in Chico, California, and Pacific State Bank, headquartered in Stockton, California, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the two banks.
On Friday, the Office of Thrift Supervision closed Imperial Savings and Loan Association, headquartered in Martinsville, Virginia, and appointed the FDIC as receiver.
Friday, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking closed Lincoln Park Savings Bank, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.
Friday, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking closed Wheatland Bank, headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.
Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed Amcore Bank, National Association, headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.
Friday, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking closed Peotone Bank and Trust Company, headquartered in Peotone, Illinois, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.