Since 2005, pushed by the insolvencies and rescues of large Italian corporations such as Parmalat, Cirio and Alitalia, the Italian legislature has introduced effective tools aimed at preserving the debtor’s assets and ensuring the successful reorganisation of a debtor’s business to the benefit of all the parties involved.

Tax authorities have perceived recently that international corporate groups are going through internal business restructurings in large part or in whole to achieve income tax savings.

The German Government has introduced a reform of the German Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung– InsO) in order to further facilitate business restructurings in Germany.

In Germany, the restructuring of companies or groups in financial crisis is subject to significant tax risks.

It has become common in financings for companies to utilise a capital structure with multiple layers or tranches of debt.

One thing companies often overlook in a restructuring plan is the role of communications.

Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code enables debtors that are already subject to a foreign insolvency proceeding to receive assistance from US courts in order to protect and administer their property located in the United States.

The turmoi l that rocked many commercial banks during the most recent recession should serve as a warning sign to savvy borrowers that they must be proactive and explore new financing opportunities, not only to address their own credit issues, but also to avoid potential problems with their existing lenders.

With the flood of debt-heavy capital structures created over the past decade, bankruptcy courts have been left to clean up the remnants of many failed transactions. Given the volume of debt provided, courts are likely to continue to be called upon to determine the relative rights of creditors that result from multi-tiered debt structures.

Building services and maintenance contractor Rok was placed into administration in early November. Administrators from PWC are looking for a buyer for the self styled “nation’s local builder”. The move comes just weeks after the administration of its rival Connaught which led to 1,400 redundancies. Rok’s 3,800 employees will be understandably very concerned as will Rok’s customers/employers, many of whom are in the public sector.