The UK's latest quarterly company insolvency statistics, published on 2 August, confirm the trends the restructuring community are seeing so far this year and are expecting to continue as we progress through the year.
Historically, the Hong Kong courts have generally recognised foreign insolvency proceedings commenced in the jurisdiction in which the company is incorporated. This may no longer be the case in Hong Kong following the recent decision of Provisional Liquidator of Global Brands Group Holding Ltd v Computershare Hong Kong Trustees Ltd [2022] HKCFI 1789 (Global Brands).
On 22 July 2022 and after the judge ordered a delay for more evidence, the English court sanctioned the restructuring plan proposed by Houst Limited (Houst). Houst is an SME that is concerned with the provision of property management services for short-term/holiday lets. Its business was badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning it was both cash flow and balance sheet insolvent when proposing the plan.
Historically, the common law has only recognised foreign insolvency proceedings commenced in the jurisdiction in which the company is incorporated. This may no longer be the case in Hong Kong. Going forward, a Hong Kong court will now recognise foreign insolvency proceedings in the jurisdiction of the company’s “centre of main interests” (COMI). Indeed, it will not be sufficient, nor will it be necessary, that the foreign insolvency process is conducted in a company’s place of incorporation.
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Reestructuraciones de empresas en crisis Novedades en la Ley Concursal espaola
20 de julio 2022
La Ley de reforma del texto refundido de la Ley Concursal que traspone la Directiva 2019/1023 sobre reestructuraciones e insolvencia (la Ley) ha sido remitida al Congreso para su aprobacin definitiva, tras lo cual, una vez publicada en el BOE entrar en vigor a los veinte das (salvo alguna excepcin).
La Ley acomete una reforma estructural en el mbito preconcursal y concursal con numerosas novedades y con los siguientes objetivos:
- The Law for the amendment of the Spanish Insolvency Law that transposes Directive 2019/1023 (Directive on restructuring and insolvency) (the Law) has been sent to the Spanish Congress for its final approval after which it will be published in the Spanish Official Gazette, and twenty days thereafter the Law will enter into force, excluding some articles.
The Law sets out structural reforms in pre-insolvency and insolvency regulations to achieve the following goals:
On 6 June 2022, Mr Justice Harris sanctioned a Hong Kong scheme of arrangement for Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group (the Company) in re Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Limited [2022] HKFCI 1686 (Rare Earth).
In a consultation commenced on 7 July 2022, the UK Insolvency Service is proposing to implement two “model laws” adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
Japan Inc has embarked upon the overdue process of unbundling its conglomerate structures. Businesses that are being put up for sale include distressed oversees operations, particularly in the automotive sector. Managing the businesses while they are in distress, preparing them for sale, and eventually selling them, comes with a variety of legal and practical complications. The legal landscape will vary by jurisdiction, but the following aspects generally need to be considered in some shape or form regardless of the applicable law.
While the M&A pipeline remains strong and the usual acquisition models for listed companies (takeovers and schemes of arrangement) remain active, as talk turns to economic headwinds and rising interest rates, it is worth bearing in mind the third possible pathway to acquire a listed company in a distressed context: the “DOCA takeover”.
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