Last week HM Treasury published its much anticipated consultation paper on introducing a dedicated Insurer Resolution Regime (IRR) in the UK, which would implement key international standards.
The Dutch Act implementing the EU Directive on Insolvency, Restructuring and Second Chance (the Restructuring Directive) enters into force on 1 January 2023 and will amend the current Act on Court Confirmation of a Private Restructuring Plan (the WHOA) to some extent. Below we have set out some of the material changes as a result of the implementation.
A preventive restructuring framework and second chance
On 7 December 2022, the European Commission published itsproposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law (COM(2022) 702; 2022/0408 (COD)) (the Proposal). Readers may be aware that the EU has already legislated in the area of insolvency.
Shareholders are among the many who have lost money in the multi-billion euro insolvency of the former DAX30 payment provider Wirecard and its allegedly fraudulent business practices. Wirecard had to file for insolvency after assets worth €1.9bn could not be found. Collectively, the shareholders claimed around €7bn in damages for intentional capital markets law violations by former Wirecard executives. Unsurprisingly, the shareholders are now trying to minimise their losses and secure at least partial payment on their claims from the insolvency estate.
1.1 Are there international treaties and/or cross-border instruments applicable?
The restructuring Q&A provides a comprehensive overview of some of the key points of law and practice of restructuring in Switzerland.
1.1 What formal insolvency proceedings are available in Switzerland?
As expected, the UK's latest quarterly company insolvency statistics, published on 28 October, follow the pattern of previous quarterly updates this year with the number of insolvencies continuing to rise in comparison with both the equivalent quarter in 2021, and pre-pandemic.
With the temporary insolvency measures implemented under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act no longer in force, the Q3 2022 data shows a significant increase in insolvencies from Q3 2021, with the overall number of registered company insolvencies 40 per cent higher.
Summary
The Supreme Court held that when directors know, or ought to know, that the company is insolvent or bordering on insolvency, or that an insolvent liquidation or administration is probable, they must consider the interests of creditors, balancing them against the interests of shareholders where they may conflict. The greater the company’s financial difficulties, the more the directors should prioritise the interests of creditors.
Background
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New developments regarding Spanish pre-insolvency restructuring tools
6 September 2022
The Law 16/2022, of 5 September for the amendment of the Spanish Insolvency Law that transposes Directive 2019/1023 (Directive on restructuring and insolvency) (the Law) has been published today in the Spanish Official Gazette. The Law will enter into force on 26 September 2022 (excluding some articles).
The Law sets out structural reforms in pre-insolvency and insolvency regulations to achieve the following goals:
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Reestructuraciones de empresas en crisis Novedades en la Ley Concursal espaola
6 de septiembre de 2022
La Ley 16/2022, de 5 de septiembre, de reforma del texto refundido de la Ley Concursal que traspone la Directiva 2019/1023 sobre reestructuraciones e insolvencia (la Ley) ha sido publicada hoy en el BOE. La Ley entrar en vigor el 26 de septiembre de 2022 (salvo alguna excepcin).
La Ley acomete una reforma estructural en el mbito preconcursal y concursal con numerosas novedades y con los siguientes objetivos: