The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill 2019-21 (the “Bill”) published on 20 May 2020, had its third reading on 3 June 2020. This briefing focuses on the proposed changes to shareholder meetings and Companies House filing deadlines. For the purposes of this briefing, the “Relevant Period” began on 26 March 2020 and ends on 30 September 2020.
1. Flexibility for holding shareholder’s meetings.
Market conditions and Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic and the response to it, including global lockdowns, has caused substantial disruption to business operations and trade which has resulted in significant cash flow and financial challenges for many businesses. As a result, in a number of cases, financing covenants have been breached which have triggered defaults under financing arrangements.
Shenzhen Everich Supply Chain Co, Ltd (in Liquidation in the Mainland of the People's Republic of China) [2020] HKCFI 965 (date of judgment: 4 June 2020)
For the second time the Hong Kong Court has recognised a PRC winding-up proceeding and granted assistance to the administrator of a PRC company appointed by a PRC Court. The Hong Kong Court also granted the administrator an express right to take control of the company's subsidiaries in Hong Kong.
Background
RE: A COMPANY (INJUNCTION TO RESTRAIN PRESENTATION OF PETITION)
Die Corona-Krise zeigt bereits nach wenigen Monaten erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die finanzielle Lage vieler Unternehmen. Während sich die Bundesregierung bemüht, Hilfspakete auf den Weg zu bringen und Kurzarbeit zu fördern, sind die Folgen für viele Branchen vernichtend. Manche Unternehmen werden auf lange Sicht eine Insolvenz nicht abwenden können. Eine bevorstehende Insolvenz zeichnet sich oft dadurch ab, dass der Arbeitgeber nicht mehr in der Lage ist, seine Arbeitnehmer zu bezahlen.
Was passiert mit ausstehenden Löhnen?
Hogan Lovells Publications | 03 June 2020
A creditor's game plan in Chapter 11: Five things to consider
Hogan Lovells Publications | 29 May 2020
Implications of COVID-19 on the Australian Mining Industry
Government interventions into economies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are now globally widespread. To date, in the UK, this has predominantly been focussed on relief measures targeted at financial support, including the creation of government backed loan schemes and the furlough scheme.
One of the largest bankruptcy orders ever made in the English courts (in the region of £870 million) has been set aside to allow a creditors’ meeting to take place in order to consider an individual voluntary arrangement. In (1)Gertner (2) Laser Trust v CFL Finance Ltd [2020] EWHC 1241 (Ch), Mr Justice Marcus Smith has held that unless a breach of the good faith rule can be established, it is inappropriate for the court to refuse an application supported by a majority of creditors to stay a bankruptcy petition.
Long awaited insolvency reforms in the UK, plus the government’s COVID-19 proposals on the use of statutory demands – and much more
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