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Restructuring Advisory Partner David Hudson considers the outlook for corporates

There’s no denying that the latest insolvency figures make for uncomfortable reading. In 2023, there were more than 25,000 registered company insolvencies, the highest annual number since 1993 and 14% higher than 2022.

Friday January 26, 2024

Financial Advisory Partner, Jim Davies, explores the recent developments in Restructuring Plans

Financial Advisory Partner, Jim Davies, led the relevant alternative valuation analysis for four Restructuring Plans that were sanctioned by the High Court in 2023. Here, he explores recent developments in light of the Adler Restructuring Plan being overturned.

Insolvency statistics for August were recently released and the number of companies entering into formal insolvency processes is the highest it has been for several years.

The economic outlook isn’t great, with the IMF predicting growth in the UK will be lowest of all the G7, off the back of pandemics, wars, energy crises, labour shortages, and borderline hyperinflation.

Restructuring Advisory Director, Luke Wilson, reflects on the manufacturing sector's economic activity.

From my experience every battle in business or life always has two sides, the one which is glaringly obvious,  the fight itself – the difficulties and the alarming thoughts of, how do I find a way through – then the other side, beneath the surface, there is an abundance of opportunity for change, growth and learning. This is no different for the current state of flux that the manufacturing sector is facing.

The Eighth Circuit held that “avoidance actions [e.g., preferences, fraudulent transfers] can be sold as property of the [Chapter 7 debtor’s] estate.” In re Simply Essentials, LLC, 2023 WL 5341506, *1 (8th Cir. Aug. 21, 2023). On a direct appeal from the bankruptcy court, the court affirmed the bankruptcy court’s granting of the trustee’s motions to compromise and sell property under Bankruptcy Code §363(f). A creditor had objected, arguing unsuccessfully that “avoidance actions… are not part of the bankruptcy estate ….” Id.

On July 28, 2023, Judge Michael Kaplan of the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey issued an opinion granting motions to dismiss LTL Management LLC’s second chapter 11 case, finding that it was filed in bad faith due to a lack of imminent and immediate financial distress. See In re LTL Mgmt., LLC, No. 23-12825 (MBK), 2023 WL 4851759 (Bankr. D.N.J. July 28, 2023). Judge Kaplan’s decision follows the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit’s dismissal of LTL’s first chapter 11 bankruptcy case in January 2023.

Over the past year, digital asset investors have become acutely aware of asset custody and counterparty credit risks due to the high-profile bankruptcies of Voyager, Celsius, BlockFi, and FTX. These investors have found that, at times, their assets may be stuck in a bankruptcy proceeding for years. However, these investors—now bankruptcy claim holders—have options for more immediate liquidity.

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Restructuring Advisory Director, Luke Wilson sits down with Neil Taylor, founder and managing director of NTI, on the CPD Tap podcast to explore the latest insolvency trends.

In our latest article, Financial Advisory Partner, Jim Davies, explores the valuation element of Restructuring Plans.

Three years in, how is the RP valuation debate evolving?

Whilst AI is leading the agenda when it comes to the future of technology, fintech still remains the ace in the pack for investors. In fact, fintech businesses contribute more than £10 billion to the UK economy every year – supporting 76,000 jobs.

Fintechs also tend to outperform firms in other sectors too, with an annualised growth rate of 16% over the past decade, against 1.3% for the average SME.