Why calculating potential claims under s214 Insolvency Act 1986 can be far from simple

Introduction

Duties and Implications of financial Information in s.214 claims

Introduction

This article follows Part 1 in which I set out the key issues we have recently seen and the case law arising in Misfeasance and Wrongful Trading claims. This Part 2 considers the duties and implications surrounding the financial information that is available to directors when faced with a s.214 wrongful trading claim.

This article is a part one of two series that explores the key issues we have recently seen and the case law arising in Misfeasance and Wrongful Trading claims.

Introduction

What is Wrongful Trading?

What is the so-called "creditor duty"?

This is the duty, introduced into English common law by the leading case of West Mercia Safetywear v Dodd1 in 1988, of company directors to consider, or act in accordance with, the interests of the company's creditors when the company becomes insolvent, or when it approaches, or is at real risk of insolvency.

Background

On 22 July 2022, the English High Court sanctioned Houst Limited’s (“Houst” or the “Company”) restructuring plan (the “Restructuring Plan”), which significantly, is the first time a Restructuring Plan has been used to cram down HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) as preferential creditor.¹

Background

Changtel Solutions UK Ltd (In Liquidation) and others v G4S Secure Solutions (UK) Ltd [2022] EWHC 694 (Ch)¹

Section 127(1) Insolvency Act 1986 (“IA 1986”) provides that: "In a winding-up by the court, any disposition of the company’s property, and any transfer of shares, or alteration in the status of the company’s members, made after the commencement of the winding-up is, unless the court otherwise orders, void."

Restrictions on the issuing of statutory demands and winding-up petitions are due to come to an end at the end of the month having first been implemented by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (“CIGA”) in March 2020.

As of 1 April 2022, the restrictions will cease to apply and creditors will be free once again to issue winding-up petitions against debtors who are unable to pay sums owed.

On 12 January 2022, the English High Court granted Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited’s (“Smile” or the “Company”) application to convene a single meeting of plan creditors (the super senior creditors) to vote on the Company’s proposed restructuring plan (the “Restructuring Plan”). It is the first plan to use section 901C(4) of the Companies Act 2006 (“CA 2006”) to exclude other classes of creditors and shareholders from voting on the Restructuring Plan on the basis that they have no genuine economic interest in the Company. 

Background 

On the 19th of August 2021, the English High Court sanctioned a Part 26A restructuring plan proposed by the administrators of Amicus Finance plc (in administration) (“Amicus”) for the company’s solvent exit from administration, enabling the company to be rescued as a going concern (the “Restructuring Plan”).

In recent weeks, headlines around the UK have declared a crisis in the gas and energy sector: prices rising, suppliers collapsing, and customers – and industry professionals – wondering what has gone wrong.