The recent Amendment on the Czech Insolvency Act (the “Amendment”) enters into force on 1 July 2017.

The Amendment states that a creditor is entitled to be satisfied from its security even when its contingent or future claim (such as bank guarantee) becomes actual after the start of the security provider’s insolvency.

Introduction

Regarding M&A deal activity in emerging Europe, 2019 seems to have been a year of mixed sentiments. While both the overall value and volume of M&A deals in the region were down year-on-year, many M&A professionals claim anecdotally that it was a more buoyant year than the previous one. There are also predictions that investment activity in emerging Europe will increase even further in the next 12 months. 

A syndicated loan involving several lenders requires a plain and transparent security structure that will be easy to enforce if an event of default occurs. For this purpose a security agent is often appointed, who holds all of the established security interests. In these cases a parallel debt is typically created according to which any amounts owed from time to time by any of the borrowers and/or guarantors to the lenders are also owed to the security agent (abstract acknowledgement of debt).

A significant amendment to the Czech Insolvency Act will take effect on 1 July 2017. It has been stated that the main aim of the amendment is to introduce measures against so called “insolvency mafia” and regulate consultancy services providers in connection with solving personal debts. The amendment brings changes to rules for personal bankruptcies, which are to be solved through a discharge from debts.

On 14 February 2017, the president of the Czech Republic signed a comprehensive amendment to the Czech Insolvency Act which will enter into force on 1 July 2017, and will significantly affect a vast number of insolvency institutions.  

The purpose of the amendment is to lessen the administrative burden on the courts, protect against unjustified 'frivolous' insolvency petitions (literal Czech translation is bullying petitions), enhance the transparency of insolvency proceedings and regulate the advisors providing services in the area of debt relief. 

The new Amendment on the Czech Insolvency Act (the “Amendment”) will enter into force on 1 July 2017.

The Amendment introduces a “liquidity gap” test, which will be used when a debtor (entrepreneur) needs to determine whether it is considered insolvent or not. The liquidity gap is the difference between a debtor’s due debts and its readily available funds. A debtor will only be considered insolvent if the liquidity gap is higher than 10% of its overdue debts.

(Usnesení Nejvyššího soudu ČR sp. zn. 29 NSCR 31/2013, ze dne 30. dubna 2015)

Dovolatel se obrátil na Nejvyšší soud s otázkou, zda nájemné získané v průběhu insolvenčního řízení z pronájmu zastavených nemovitostí náleží zajištěnému věřiteli.

(Beschluss des Obersten Gerichts der Tschechischen Repub-lik, Az. 29 NSCR 31/2013, vom 30. April 2015)

Der Revisionsführer hat das Oberste Gericht mit der Frage angerufen, ob der im Verlauf des Insolvenzverfahrens eingenommene Mietzins aus der Vermietung verpfändeter Immo- bilien dem gesicherten Gläubiger obliegt.

(Czech Supreme Court Resolution No. 29 NSCR 31/2013 of30th  April 2015)

The applicant for an appellate review turned to the Supreme Court with the question of whether a secured creditor is entitled to rent obtained during insolvency proceedings from the leasing of mortgaged real estate.

Following huge trading losses and the discovery of alleged fraud in a Singaporean subsidiary, O.W. Bunker & Trading A.S. filed for bankruptcy on 7 November 2014in the Danish court, just seven months after the company floated on the stock market.  Since then, a number of other O.W. Bunker Danish and overseas entities have also filed for bankruptcy.