In the wake of the economic stress created by COVID-19, we have seen increased opportunities for buyers looking to acquire distressed companies and assets in Canada. Increased deal flow in industry sectors that have been hit hardest by COVID-19, including retail, hospitality, travel, cannabis, and oil and gas has occurred, and with the passage of time other sectors will be affected.
The Insolvency Act 1986 (HMRC Debts: Priority on Insolvency) Regulations 2020 will apply to all business insolvencies that commence on or after 1 December 2020. They provide for certain debts owed to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to become preferential debts in the event of a business entering a formal insolvency. It is important that creditors understand whether they are affected by these changes so that they can decide whether they need to take steps to protect their position.
The relevant debts
一直以來，香港的公司清盤制度均欠缺法定企業拯救程序，因此，陷入財政困難的公司只能透 過以下途徑拯救其業務：(i) 與主要債權人透過非法定途徑就重組債務達成共識，或 (ii) 根據香 港法例第 622 章《公司條例》進行債務償還安排計劃。然而，上述兩個途徑均有很多問題，例 如費用高昂、不切實際、欠缺彈性和繁瑣費時。
今年較早時候，香港政府宣布重啟企業拯救條例草案，在香港推行（其中包括）法定的企業拯 救程序。《公司（企業拯救）條例草案》（「條例草案」）旨在與國際慣例及標準接軌。下文 將概述最新的立法建議。
發起臨時監管
根據條例草案，已經或很大機會變為無力償債的公司，可以發起企業拯救程序，委任一名獨立 的第三方專業人士（必須為註冊會計師或律師）為臨時監管人。臨時監管人會在暫止期（亦稱 為臨時監管期，建議為期 45 個辦公日）內擔任公司的代理人。在暫止期內，公司將以持續經 營形式繼續經營下去，而臨時監管人會訂定拯救方案（稱為「自願償債安排」），在臨時監管 期結束後的債權人會議上審議。債權人將藉由決議案決定是否批准自願償債安排建議；如獲批 准，自願償債安排將由臨時監管人監管實施。
法定暫止期
簡介
2020 年 11 月 12 日，破產管理署發出 2020 年第 2 號通告，當中載列關於臨時清盤人或清盤 人向破產管理署署長提交表格 D1 及 D2 的經修訂安排（「通告」）。臨時清盤人／清盤人 （統稱「清盤人」）如知悉董事有任何不當行為操守，須向破產管理署署長提交法定表格 D1。通告將於 2020 年 12 月 1 日生效。
現有安排
如無力償債公司的清盤人認為現任或前任董事的行為操守（不論單獨觀之或連同其作為任何其 他公司的董事的行為操守觀之）使該人不適宜關涉公司的管理，則須填妥香港法例第 32J 章 《公司（董事行為操守報告）規例》附表內的表格 D1，向破產管理署署長報告有關事宜。
破產管理署署長在收到上述報告後，如信納符合公眾利益，可根據香港法例第 32 章《公司 （清盤及雜項條文）條例》第 168I 條向法院申請針對任何現時或曾經出任無力償債公司董事 的人士發出取消資格令。
清盤人如認為前任或現任董事的行為操守不適宜公司的管理，即可援引報告規定。該規定同樣 適用於公司成員自動清盤的情況。
新安排
Introduction
On 12 November 2020, the Official Receiver's Office ("ORO") issued Circular No. 2 / 2020 setting out the revised arrangement on submission of Form D1 and Form D2 by provisional liquidators or liquidators to the Official Receiver ("Circular"). Provisional liquidators / liquidators ("Liquidators") are required to submit a statutory Form D1 to the ORO when they become aware of any unfit conduct of a director. The Circular takes effect from 1 December 2020.
Hong Kong's insolvency system is famous for its lack of statutory corporate rescue procedure ("CRP"). Owing to the lack of CRP, financially distressed companies may only recourse to rescue their business with (i) a non-statutory consensual agreement with major creditors to restructure debts, or (ii) a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). These options, however, have many problems such as being expensive, impracticable, inflexible and tedious.
1 November 2020 ONC Corporate Disputes and Insolvency Quarterly Dear Clients and Friends, This special newsletter aims to regularly update practitioners on important and noteworthy cases in the areas of corporate disputes and insolvency in Hong Kong, the UK and other common law jurisdictions. We would also seek to give alert on important legislative and regulatory initiatives from Hong Kong.
Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)
Canada is an ideal location in which to establish and grow a business. One of the most common ways for foreign companies to expand to the Canadian market is through a merger with or acquisition of an existing Canadian business. There are a number of advantages to choosing Canada:
The economies of the United States (U.S.) and Canada are closely intertwined. As operations expand across the border, so too do the complexities associated with carrying on business - particularly the insolvency of a company spanning both jurisdictions. As such, understanding how to navigate the complexities of Canadian insolvency regimes is essential to successfully doing business in the country.
1. Legislation and court system
Jasvir Jootla provides an overview of the recent changes to the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act. She highlights the differences within the Act and discuss the impact it will have if you are dealing with insolvent businesses.
Transcript