Avoiding a Cliff-edge of Insolvencies? Observations ferom the recent House Of Lords debate on extension of creditior restrictions

RE IMAGINED

An analysis of the Restructuring Plan January 2021

Illustration: A world of complexity by Sam Hadley

RE IMAGINED: AN ANALYSIS OF THE RESTRUCTURING PLAN:

UPDATE ON TEMPORARY PROVISIONS

COVID PROTECTIONS EXTENDED TO GIVE BUSINESSES A LAST CHANCE TO PLAN RECOVERY. TIME TO CONSIDER A COVID-19 CVA?

If the announcements last week on the lack of downward tier revisions for many areas is the bad news, the silver lining for the struggling and affected businesses came in the reinstatement of the temporary suspension on the use of statutory demands and winding up petitions until 31 March 2021.

• The hospitality industry has been fighting back against the Government's lockdown measures due to the lack of financial support, but there is absolutely no doubt that the worst is yet to come as having weathered lockdown 2.0, Government policy now looks set to deny many operators the ability to trade properly in the run up to Christmas, with hard hit businesses set to miss out on circa £7.8bn of trade.
• The majority of the temporary measures introduced by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 may have been extended, but directors remain mindful of their statutory duti

引言：近期某集团破产清算案中，关于债务人与境外基金债权人之间因“维好协议”引发的纠纷事项，上海金融法院作出裁定，对境外债权人在香港特别行政区取得的对该债务人的胜诉判决予以认可，鉴此该境外债权人的债权有望在破产程序中获得确认。而其他破产案件中，管理人对境外投资人基于“维好协议”的债权作出不予确认的决定。由此，关于“维好协议”项下的债权人应如何主张权利、在“维好提供方”破产的情况下可否享有破产债权人地位并参与破产程序等问题众说纷纭。为此，本文将从“维好协议”的性质入手，在境内“维好提供方”破产语境下，阐述“维好协议”项下债权人可以主张权利的路径，并分析各救济途径在司法实践中的可行性。

一、“维好协议”的性质分析

（一）何谓“维好协议”

Background

Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) are an insolvency procedure established under the Insolvency Act 1986 which allow a struggling company to reach a compromise on debts due with a sufficient majority of creditors, thereby avoiding a formal insolvency. They have primarily been used only by large high street retailers and are not often considered, particularly in Scotland, a realistic option for small and medium companies (SMEs).

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and with a new model available, we believe it is time for a rethink.

Almost 20 years ago the Government decided to abolish Crown Preference bringing it into step with other western jurisdictions such as Germany and Australia. It was considered at the time "inequitable" to elevate the public purse above ordinary unsecured creditors for whom the impact was potentially far greater.

Astonishingly, in the midst of a global pandemic and a looming "No Deal" Brexit, absent a dramatic last minute "U-turn" by the Government (let's face it, it wouldn’t be the first !), Crown Preference will return with effect from December 1st 2020.

This case is within the Chestnut Portfolio acquired by the Cerberus global private investment group and has been one of its most hard fought cases, involving personal debts and security of over £12m and litigation spanning back to 2016.

Summary