Summary and implications
Almost exactly one year on from the Order* coming into force, many people remain unaware that it is no longer possible to appoint an administrative receiver over an overseas incorporated company.
Lenders and indeed insolvency practitioners should be aware that this is the case even when dealing with qualifying floating charges created before 15 September 2003 but alternative strategies, including administration, may be pursued to the same effect.
Administrative receivership
Summary and implications
The Government is proposing to give struggling companies a protected moratorium against enforcement action, to help them to negotiate a restructuring deal with their creditors.
The moratorium would be available to all companies which are preparing a CVA or scheme of arrangement. At present, a moratorium is only available to small companies* who are proposing a CVA.
According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, a lack of bad faith is no longer a defense to court sanctions for failure to produce documents in a timely manner. That court, in In re A&M Florida Properties II, recently awarded sanctions against both a party and its counsel for the counsel’s failure to become familiar with the client’s email and data-retention policies and systems— despite the absence of any bad faith or willful delay.1
If an administration order is made and a pending winding-up petition is subsequently dismissed, the costs of that petition are payable as an expense of the administration.1
In our September 2009 Pensions update we reported on proposals to make changes to the employer debt regime aimed at assisting corporate restructurings. The final regulations have now been published and come into force on 6 April 2010. Under these provisions, where there is a corporate restructuring and one employer’s assets and pension liabilities are transferred to another, then as long as the prescribed steps (set out below) are followed, no statutory employer debt will arise. Employers relying on an easement will not be expected to seek clearance from the Pensions Regulator.
The Government has announced that it will shortly begin a consultation on important new measures designed to boost confidence in the ‘pre-pack’ administration procedure.
The PPF policy statement can be found here
Following its November 2009 consultation, the PPF has published a statement confirming its policy on measuring insolvency risk for the 2011/12 levy. Schemes and employers should act quickly before the 30 and 31 March 2010 deadlines.
The policy statement confirms that for the 2011/12 levy year, the PPF will adopt new policies, including:
In parallel with the decision to allow the UK government to intervene in the liquidation of Bradford & Bingley, the European Commission has approved measures taken to facilitate the restructuring of Dunfermline Building Society. After the business encountered major financial difficulties, the UK Government intervened to facilitate an approved restructuring plan under which the building society’s impaired assets were split from its profitable business and put into administration.
Summary and implications
The court has clarified that administrators must pay rent as an expense of the administration when they use property.
The High Court has recently held* that:
Summary and implications
Two recent cases involving company administrations have seen the court take very different approaches to an administrator’s demands. The court has shown that it will look at the overall purpose of the administration before deciding whether to allow administrators to use their powers. Clients should consider: