ASTRA RESOURCES PLC V CREDIT VERITAS USA LLC [2015] EWHC 1830 (CH)

It is trite law that the court will grant an injunction restraining the advertisement of a winding-up petition where the petition amounts to an abuse of process.

E: BW ESTATES LTD; RANDHAWA AND ANOTHER V TURPIN AND ANOTHER [2015] EWHC 517 (CH) (“RVT”)

This decision followed an application by creditors (“the Randhawas”) of BW Estates Ltd (“the Company”) against the administrators of the Company that their remuneration should be deemed excessive and either disallowed entirely or reduced to such extent as the court thought appropriate.

The Facts

The South East’s position as one of the more prosperous areas of the UK, in terms of both lifestyle and work looks set to continue, as demonstrated by the findings of Lambert Smith Hampton’s UK Vitality Index Report 2015 in which Guildford came out as the top destination in the UK, with other cities in the region dominating the list.

TECHNICAL UPDATE - APRIL 2015

The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (“the Act”), which received Royal Assent on 26 March 2015, contains a number of changes and additions to the Insolvency Act 1986 (“IA 1986”). 

A summary of the changes, as they relate to insolvency proceedings, are highlighted below but for full details as to the newest additions to the IA 1986, please see s117 to s146 of the Act which can be located at:

The Personal Insolvency Act 2012 (the “PI Act”) was signed into law on 26 December 2012 and introduces significant changes to the personal insolvency regime in Ireland, as described in our previous client briefing concerning the PI Act (issued in December 2012 and available on our website). All provisions of the PI Act, other than Part 4 which relates to bankruptcy, have now been commenced and it is expected that debtors will shortly be able to avail of the new insolvency measures.

The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2013 (“the Act”) has been enacted. The Act addresses the unintended consequences arising from the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”).

Summary

New legislation alters the law and procedures of personal insolvency in radical ways. The Personal Insolvency Act 2012 establishes an independent Insolvency Service of Ireland and introduces new insolvency procedures for addressing unsecured debts (of any value) and secured debts (up to €3 million in aggregate but without limit in the case of agreement). Current bankruptcy laws are amended, including a reduction of the bankruptcy term from 12 years to 3 and the carve-out of pension assets from the bankrupt’s estate.

Draft legislation proposes to alter the law and procedures of personal insolvency in radical ways. The proposals include the establishment of an independent Insolvency Service of Ireland and the introduction of new procedures for addressing unsecured debts (of any value) and secured debts (up to €3 million in aggregate but without limit in the case of agreement). Current bankruptcy laws would also be amended, principally to increase the minimum level of debt required to enter bankruptcy to €20,000 and to reduce the bankruptcy term from 12 years to three.

Government proposals for new legislation would alter the law and procedures of personal insolvency in radical ways. The proposals include the establishment of an independent Insolvency Service and the introduction of non-judicial procedures for addressing unsecured debts (of any value) and secured debts (in the range €20,000 to €3 million). Current bankruptcy laws would also be amended.

On 25 January 2012 the Government announced proposals to amend the laws and procedures of personal insolvency in radical ways.