Fulltext Search

Since Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd’s request for Government loan was denied (see the post by my colleague, Jess), the airline has announced plans for a private-only solvent recapitalisation to "rebuild its balance sheet" and "welcome passengers back".

The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 makes the most significant changes to UK insolvency law in a generation. The Act introduces three permanent measures: a new free standing moratorium, a new restructuring plan process (largely modelled on schemes of arrangement but with the addition of a cross-class cram-down), and restrictions on termination of contracts for the supply of goods and services. The moratorium and the restructuring plan are of particular significance to secured lenders, and this note addresses some of the most frequently asked questions by the ABL community.

The Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (COVID-19) Act 2020 (the Act) was passed by the Dáil on 30 July 2020 and, once commenced, will make temporary amendments to, inter alia, the Companies Act 2014 (the Companies Act) in order to address certain operational challenges that COVID-19 has presented to Irish companies.

It is an unfortunate reality that the number of insolvencies in the construction sector seems certain to rise in coming months as the economic impact of COVID-19 takes effect. In this context, the recent Supreme Court decision in Bresco Electrical Services Ltd (In Liquidation) v Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Ltd [2020] UKSC 25 is particularly relevant.

This case concerned important questions regarding the compatibility of two statutory regimes:

Introduction

With grimly apposite timing, in June, the Supreme Court gave its decision in Bresco Electrical Services Ltd (in Liquidation) v Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Ltd and turned on its head the construction industry’s understanding of an insolvent company’s right to pursue an adjudication. It will fundamentally affect construction insolvencies.

The government’s temporary changes to the insolvency rules to cater for Covid-19 – in particular the new restrictions on the presentation of winding-up petitions – have been well-publicised. These have now been packaged within an Act (the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act (“CIGA”)) which also brought in significant, permanent changes to UK insolvency law.

Intro

The UK insolvency regime has changed. Our earlier alert set out a brief overview of the changes. This is note provides more detail and flags some practical steps that the suppliers of goods and services may wish to consider.

In a nutshell

On 19 June 2020, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted law (draft law No. 2284) aimed at introducing sweeping new changes to regulation of financial instruments (the Law). The Law has also paved the way for a wide range of new financial instruments such as derivatives, green bonds, loan notes, and other structured finance products.

On 19 June 2020, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted law (draft law No. 2284) aimed at introducing sweeping new changes to regulation of financial instruments (the Law). The Law has also paved the way for a wide range of new financial instruments such as derivatives, green bonds, loan notes, and other structured finance products.