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This article will discuss whether or not a winding-up petition or bankruptcy petition can be based upon a liquidated amount of crypto which is due and payable by one party to another (a crypto-debt).

An example of such a case could be where party A agrees to transfer 100 widgets to party B in exchange for five bitcoin. Assume party A delivers the widgets, and party B accepts receipt and raises no issue with the widgets, and does not dispute their liability to transfer five bitcoin to party B.

Introduction

There is a worrying trend in the construction industry: contractor insolvencies are on the rise.

According to a release from The Insolvency Service, the construction industry accounted for 3,213 insolvency cases in the 12 months leading up to April 2022. This equates to almost a fifth (19%) of the overall cases of insolvency and, more worryingly, these numbers are still growing. These insolvencies have occurred throughout the market but have particularly affected smaller and mid-tier contractors.

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 challenging trading conditions in the UK economy persist, insolvency is a real prospect facing many companies. Businesses are increasingly likely to find themselves dealing with other businesses that are in financial difficulties or even insolvent. In such cases, the need to plan ahead, develop strategies to minimise problems and manage relationships with customers and suppliers should not be underestimated.

This article looks at some of the issues to consider when dealing with companies that are either insolvent or on the brink of insolvency and how to protect your business.

A foreign bankruptcy or insolvency decree has no effects on the debtor’s Swiss assets and on court proceedings against the debtor in Switzerland and a foreign bankruptcy administrator must not act on Swiss soil unless the foreign decree is formally recognized by a Swiss court. Such recognition may be initiated by the foreign bankruptcy administration, any creditor or the debtor itself. This three-step guide describes how a foreign bankruptcy decree can be recognized in Switzerland.

Yesterday, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) published its long-awaited judgment in Heiploeg/FNV. The ECJ rules that a pre-pack under circumstances can fall within the exception as mentioned in Article 5 (1) Directive 2001/23.

Introduction to the pre-pack

Energy prices have soared over the last few months. Although this evolution has impacted all economic operators, energy-intensive companies are particularly affected. The Belgian legislator has therefore introduced a set of protection measures, including amongst others a so-called “temporary moratorium”. This moratorium provides amongst others protection against bankruptcy and judicial dissolution as well as against attachments on movable assets for energy debts.

With the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill having received Royal Assent, Penningtons Manches Cooper’s real estate litigation team sets out below an overview of the restrictions now coming into force.

There are restrictions on the service of statutory demands and winding-up petitions where a debtor company is unable to pay sums claimed due to coronavirus, which are due to expire on 31 March 2022.

With the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill (the Bill) now in its final stages, Penningtons Manches Cooper’s real estate litigation team sets out below an overview of the new restrictions that will come into force when the Bill is given Royal Assent.

Current restrictions

It may first be beneficial to review the current moratorium that is in place. The majority of these restrictions expire on 25 March 2022 and the insolvency restrictions expire on 31 March 2022 but, until those dates, the following apply: