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Background

Ever since the Hon’ble Finance Minister of India announced the suspension of initiation of corporate insolvency under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 (IBC) in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been several market speculations about the nature and extent of the proposed suspension and its implications. With the promulgation of the amendment ordinance to IBC, most of these speculations have been put to rest, however owing to the language of the Ordinance, a new set of issues may have arisen.

Executive Summary

  • New legislation will introduce permanent and temporary reforms to the UK restructuring and insolvency regime
  • Permanent reforms: company moratoriums; restructuring plans; the prohibition of insolvency termination clauses in supply contracts
  • Temporary reforms: suspension of the director wrongful trading offence; restriction on the service of statutory demands and winding up petitions

Overview

It has been more than a month since the announcement of the lock-down in India by the Central Government, and longer in many other parts of the world.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a lending program for small businesses pursuant to which up to 100 percent of the principal loan amount is forgivable. While the PPP program has been a boon to business struggling in light of the ongoing pandemic, the SBA has sought to limit access by bankrupt borrowers, eliminating a significant number of otherwise eligible businesses and creating significant legal questions and issues.