An overview of Guernsey legislative and regulatory developments for the period 1 December 2022 to 28 February 2023 inclusive.
1 Corporate insolvency regime – update
The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (Insolvency) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (the Amendment Ordinance) finally came into force on 1 January 2023.
Introduction
It seems like a week hasn't passed recently without some new global macro shock hitting our screens, resulting in the economic rollercoaster ride on which we find ourselves.
mourant.com 2021934/73079902/3 GUIDE Liquidating an insolvent Jersey company Last reviewed: February 2023 Contents When is a company insolvent? 2 Désastre proceedings under the Bankruptcy Law 2 Who may make an application?
mourant.com 2021934/73072975/2 GUIDE Challenging transactions in a Jersey insolvency Last reviewed: January 2023 Contents When is a company insolvent?
During the lifetime of a company some of the most difficult problems that a director faces are encountered if the company is in financial difficulty: not yet unable to pay its bills and insolvent but with a possibility that it may get to that position. At that stage the decisions made by a director may affect not only the survival and future of the company but also the director's own position.
Summary and comment
The Bankruptcy (Netting, Contractual Subordination and Non-petition Provisions) (Jersey) Law 2005 (the Netting Law) is a short law, expressed in seven articles, which gives statutory confirmation that netting, contractual subordination and non-petition provisions in agreements are enforceable in accordance with their terms before and after bankruptcy.
In Short
The Situation: Insolvency officeholders increasingly find their investigations into a company's affairs frustrated by the comingling of records on a "group" server. Claims to privilege by other group entities (or even third parties) are then advanced as an obstacle to delivering company records to the officeholder, leading to expensive and logistically complex inspection and review processes that can be a burden on insolvent estates.
In Short
The Situation: Directors in England and Wales owe duties to the companies to which they are appointed (and may face personal liability for breaching such duties). Although the Companies Act 2006 obliges directors to maximise value for a company's shareholders, case law has suggested that directors should act in the interests of a company's creditors if a company becomes distressed.
Introduction
This Guide explains the procedure for administration order proceedings in respect of Guernsey companies.
Administration orders
The purpose of administration orders
This Guide sets out the background of the 'solvency test' and its relevance and applicability in Guernsey. The Solvency Test Background When the solvency test was introduced in July 2008 as part of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (the Law), it represented a fundamental change to Guernsey's company law in relation to the maintenance of capital and solvency.