Op 1 mei 2018 is de nieuwe insolventiewetgeving in werking getreden. De Wet Continuïteit Ondernemingen (WCO) is als aparte wet opgeheven wordt onder gewijzigde vorm volledig geïntegreerd in Boek XX WER.

In Deel I van deze reeks werd de wijziging van het insolventierecht in het algemeen toegelicht.

On 1 May 2018, the new insolvency legislation came into force. The (separate) Continuity of Enterprises Law as we knew it until recently, has ceased to exist and has been amended and fully incorporated into Volume XX of the Code of Economic Law.

As from 1 May 2018, the Belgian insolvency landscape will look different following the entry into force of the brand new Insolvency Law (Book XX of the Economic Law Code). In the wake of the electronic debt reporting system that came into force on 1 April 2017, the filing of bankruptcy must also be made electronically in the Central Solvency Register (RegSol) as of 1 May 2018.

Vanaf 1 mei 2018 ziet het Belgische insolventielandschap er anders uit ingevolge de inwerkingtreding van het gloednieuwe insolventierecht (Boek XX in het Wetboek Economisch Recht). In navolging van de elektronische aangifte van schuldvordering sinds 1 april 2017, dient vanaf 1 mei 2018 ook de aangifte van faillissement elektronisch te gebeuren in het Centraal Register Solvabiliteit (Regsol).

L’entrée en vigueur de la toute nouvelle loi sur l’insolvabilité modifiera le paysage du droit de l’insolvabilité belge dès à partir du 1er mai 2018. Le 1er avril 2017 entrait en vigueur le système de déclaration de créance par voie électronique. A présent, entrera en vigueur, dès ce 1er mai 2018, la demande de faillite par voie électronique dans le Registre Central de la Solvabilité.

In the recent decision in LBI EHF v. Raiffeisen Bank International AG [2018] EWCA Civ 719, the Court of Appeal has considered the close-out valuation provisions for "repo" trades entered into under a Global Master Repurchase Agreement (2000 edition). The court refused to limit the wide discretion given to a non-defaulting party to determine fair market value under the GMRA.

The factual background

Sellers and suppliers of movable assets can deal with problems caused by poorly-paying customers through a retention of title clause. This clause makes it contractually possible to stipulate that ownership of a certain good does not transfer until the third party acquirer has paid the full price.

It is interesting to note that the new Law on Pledges has created a better legal framework for the retention of title clause, putting any creditor - assuming a retention of title clause has been included - in a stronger position.

Clydesdale Bank Plc v. (1) R Gough (t/a JC Gough & Sons) (2) Anne Michelle Gough [2017] EWHC 2230 (Ch)

 (1) Citicorp Trustee Company Limited and (2) Golden Belt Sukuk Company BSC v. (1) Maan Al-Sanea and (2) Saad Trading, Contracting and Financial Services Co [2017] EWHC 2845 (Comm)

In this case, the High Court considered whether valid service had been effected upon two defendants based outside of the jurisdiction who had shown no willingness to be involved in the proceedings.

The law of 11 August 2017 that adds Book XX "Insolvency of Enterprises" into the Code of Economic Law enters into force on 1 May 2018.

As we already stated in our previous contributions about the reform of the insolvency law, this law modifies and regroups the Bankruptcy law and the Law of 31 January 2009 on the Continuity of Enterprises.

1. The notion "Enterprise" replaces the notion "Merchant"