The UK retail and hospitality sectors are entering the crucial winter trading period under renewed pressure following the Chancellor’s November Budget. Economic growth remains weak, and the Office for Budget Responsibility has downgraded its annual economic forecasts through to 2030, signalling that the operating environment for consumer-facing businesses is likely to remain difficult for some time. Meanwhile, insolvency levels continue their upward trajectory: 2,029 company insolvencies were recorded in October 2025, a 17% increase compared with the same month last year.
The insolvency of a premises licence holder has an immediate impact from a licensing perspective. Most premises licences are granted in perpetuity. They can be surrendered by the holder, temporarily lapse if annual fees are not paid, or be revoked following a review. These are actions the licence holder either proactively instigates or is given notice of. However, a licence lapsing because of insolvency is different because the premises licence holder may be unaware that a licence has lapsed and it may be too late to rectify matters when the lapse is brought to their attention.
In the high-stake world of business, deals are often framed as life-or-death decisions. The pressure to close can feel insurmountable, particularly when the stakes are high, and the future of your company hangs in the balance. However, there is no deal you absolutely have to do. No matter how tempting or necessary a deal might appear, the power to walk away is one of the most valuable assets you can wield.
The recent Grand Court decision of Ltd. (Unreported, 19 June 2024, Kawaley J) has reiterated and further clarified the principles to be applied to the remuneration of court-appointed receivers. Given the limited Cayman case law on the topic, the decision provides useful guidance and certainty to Receivers, and to those advising them.
What is a court-appointed 'Receiver', and what is 'remuneration'?
The Privy Council endorsed the Commercial Court's approach in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in staying insolvency proceedings, even when faced with a pre-existing arbitration agreement, only when a debt is genuinely disputed on substantial grounds.
Introduction
FinReg Update [Jurisdiction] 2024 Regulatory Update Cayman – Q3 2024 Quick Fire Updates mourant.com 1. CRS reporting reminders The Department for International Tax Cooperation (DITC) issued an Updates Bulletin in June 2024 reminding Cayman Islands financial Institutions (FIs) of the following common reporting standard (CRS) annual reporting obligations: CRS Filing Declaration – required by all FIs with a CRS reporting obligation (deadline 31 July 2024) • FIs must make a CRS return to the DITC for each Reportable Account maintained during the reporting period.
Following the recent conflicting decisions in HQP Corporation (in official liquidation)1(HQP) and Direct Lending Income Feeder Fund, Ltd (in official liquidation)2 (DLI), Simon Dickson and Laura Stone of Mourant Ozannes (Cayman) LLP consider whether shareholder misrepresentation claims can be admitted in a Cayman Islands liquidation.
Hector Robinson KC
Partner | Cayman Islands
Justine Lau
Partner | Hong Kong
Nicholas Fox
Partner | Cayman Islands
Peter Hayden
Partner | Cayman Islands
Simon Dickson
Partner | Cayman Islands
Guide
This guide examines what a creditor needs to know about liquidating an insolvent Cayman company under the Cayman Companies Act (2020 Revision) and the Companies Winding Up Rules, 2018.
The Grand Court has allowed the appointment of a Provisional Liquidator under section 104(3) of the Companies Act (2023 Revision) (the Act) for the purpose of facilitating a restructuring, rather than using the tailor-made Restructuring Officer provisions under section 91(B) of the Act.
Background
The Grand Court confirms that the Court has the jurisdiction to appoint an alternative voluntary liquidator in place of a Liquidating Agent under a limited partnership agreement.
Background