This Quickguide explains the two most common forms to bring a solvent company's life to an end and explains the processes involved in each, as well as in which circumstance which option may be best suited.

Strike-off or members' voluntary liquidation?

When a company has fulfilled its economic purpose or a group of companies wishes to consolidate its structure, there are two main options available to bring a solvent company to an end:

There are a number of options and avenues that a company can explore when faced with business stress or distress. Depending on the circumstances, a combination of these could be appropriate to help mitigate or avoid a business failing.

This guide provides an overview of potential options and should be considered alongside specific advice from the company's advisors.

Informal Options

Even when informal options are being considered, directors should engage with their advisors and stakeholders to ensure that their decisions take into account their directors' duties.

German real estate group restructuring plan sanctioned in London

Having failed to get its restructuring solution through in its home jurisdiction, beleaguered German real estate group, Adler, turned to London. After substituting a UK plc as issuer of six series of notes in order to propose an English restructuring plan, and in the face of fierce opposition from an ad hoc committee of 2029 noteholders (AHG), the group successfully forced the plan through just in time.

Introducción

Este mes destacamos especialmente dos resoluciones judiciales recaídas en relación a dos planes de restructuración: (i) una es la sentencia de la audiencia provincial de la Coruña que resuelve sobre la impugnación del plan de XELDIST cuya homologación fue tan discutida por su peculiar formación de clases (4 de 8 de ellas eran unipersonales) (ii) otra la homologación del plan de SINGLE HOME que sale adelante con el voto favorable tan solo de la clase de los especialmente relacionados.

Yesterday saw the end of a three-day sanction hearing for the restructuring plan (the “Plan”) of the Great Annual Savings (GAS) company, with Justice Adam Johnson reserving his judgment and importantly, his decision on whether to exercise cross-class-cram-down to sanction the Plan for a later date.

On April 19, 2023 the Supreme Court issued its unanimous ruling in MOAC Mall Holdings LLC v. Transform Holdco LLC, 528 U.S ____ (2023), holding that the limitations contained in section 363(m) of the United States Bankruptcy Code are not jurisdictional. The Supreme Court’s ruling not only resolved a split amongst the circuits, but it also cleared up a foggy corner of arguably one of the most consequential sections of the Bankruptcy Code.

‘If, at first, you don’t succeed, then try and try again’ is a fitting description for HMRC’s recent approach to restructuring plans, with its opposition of plans proposed by The Great Annual Savings Company (GAS) and Nasmyth Group Limited (Naysmyth).

The GAS sanction hearing (which is due to take place this week) will be the first time that HMRC has taken an active role contesting a restructuring plan at sanction following the case of Houst where the Court exercised its discretionary power to “cram down” HMRC.

The Insolvency Practice Schedule (Corporations) (Practice Schedule) was introduced in 2015 via the Insolvency Law Reform Bill 2015. The Practice Schedule was introduced together with the Insolvency Practice Schedule (Bankruptcy) with the intention of providing specific rules to aid in the handling of personal bankruptcies and corporate external administration. 

In a previous blog about the case of Mizen we considered the case from the point of view of “guarantee stripping”, looking at how the CVA dealt with those claims. However, the CVA was challenged on a number of bases, including whether it was unfairly prejudicial as a consequence of “vote swamping”.

In this blog, we look at that aspect of the case.

Introducción

En este mes comienzan a publicarse algunas resoluciones interesantes en aplicación de la Ley 16/2022 en relación a planes de restructuración y nombramientos de experto. En este campo preconcursal tan de moda son especialmente reseñables: