The October 2023 insolvency statistics show that company insolvencies have risen by 17.6% from October 2022 to October 2023 and by 56.7% since pre-pandemic levels in October 2019. Total insolvencies have reached the highest levels since 2009.
The English High Court has clarified the test it will apply on an application for a moratorium. A company can get the benefit of a moratorium without applying to court but a court application is necessary if a winding up petition has already been presented or the company is an overseas company.
Background
The Court of Cassation has considered whether company insolvency proceedings may be extended to a managing director and shareholder who has made payments to himself from the company's bank account.
Background
庭外债务重组，是指对陷入债务困境的债务人在避免完全的司法干预情形下，依靠企业自身与债权人、投资人进行谈判，最大限度地减少成本，改变其资产和债务构成或结构的一种债权债务整体调整活动，这种调整活动着眼于企业整体性系统调整，包括对债务人的业务重组、资产重组、管理重组、债务重组等。其中，业务重组主要围绕主业经营，不断提升巩固核心竞争力，进一步挖掘主业业务资产价值；资产重组主要聚焦企业主营业务，对非主业资产实施瘦身，最大限度实现企业资产重组价值的释放；管理重组主要优化企业治理结构，调整决策和监督职权范围，实现各方对资产处置和经营发展的共同管控，缓释信任风险；债务重组主要在管理重组、资产重组、业务重组的基础上，可以充分运用延期、降息、以物抵债、以股抵债等债务重组工具，实现企业整体债务风险化解。
Das Oberlandesgericht (OLG) Düsseldorf hat mit einem aktuellen Urteil (27.07.2023 – 12 U 59/22) seine eigene Rechtsprechung bestätigt, nach der die regulären Anforderungskriterien an die Überschuldungsprüfung bei Start-ups nicht uneingeschränkt Anwendung finden können.
Hintergrund – Kriterien der Überschuldungsprüfung
On 15 November 2023, the Temporary Act on Transparency of Expedited Liquidation (Turbo Liquidation Act) will enter into force. It aims to increase trust in the expedited liquidation procedure by improving its transparency, the legal protection of creditors and combatting the abuse of the procedure.
Background
The Federal Court of Justice has lowered the threshold for the approval of an insolvency plan by the insolvency court.
Background
The English Court has, for only the second time, made a compensation order under the Company Directors' Disqualification Act 1986 against a disqualified director.
Background
The UK Jurisdiction Taskforce has launched a new public consultation on the treatment of digital assets in English insolvency law.
Crypto assets are 'property'
In November 2019, the UKJT published its seminal legal statement on the status of crypto assets and smart contracts. Since then, there has been widespread acceptance that crypto assets are 'property' for the purposes of English law. And the Law Commission has recently proposed a new, third category of personal property rights to capture digital assets.
Impact on insolvency law
The English court has (for the first time) given guidance on the long-established practice of substituting a creditor as petitioner in a winding up petition and hearing argument about the creditor’s standing later.
Background
In March 2021, Citibank petitioned to wind up Liberty Commodities (LCL). The petition was supported by two creditors, White Oak and NPS. Citibank settled with LCL and applied to dismiss the petition. The supporters applied to be substituted.