Success stories point to the potential effectiveness of new legislation but significant timeframe concerns remain
The idea behind Ukraine’s new financial restructuring legislation was to implement the best global regulatory and taxation practices used to revive the banking business. A growing number of the restructuring success stories based on the new law are helping to demonstrate the viability of the relevant procedures.
On 21 October 2019, the Code on Bankruptcy Procedures adopted by Ukraine’s parliament on 18 October 2018 (“the Code”) came into effect. The Code replaces the Act of Ukraine on Renewal of Debtor’s Solvency or Declaring It Bankrupt dated 14 May 1992 that applied previously. The Code has sparked controversy in Ukraine and until the last moment there were discussions whether its entering into effect should be postponed until a later date.
Launch of insolvency proceedings
On 14 June 2016 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law “On Financial Restructuring” (the Law), which aims to solve many conflicts and assist in debt restructurings in Ukraine.
The Law provides a new procedure for restructuring financial debt of Ukrainian corporate debtors (the Restructuring).
Special features of new Restructuring procedure include:
Draft Law No. 3555 “On Financial Restructuring” (the “Restructuring Law”) aimed at creating effective mechanisms for voluntary financial restructuring of Ukrainian companies’ debts (the “Voluntary Restructuring”). The Restructuring Law is adopted as a temporary measure and will be in effect for three years. The Government expects that the Restructuring Law will result in reducing the amount of bad loans and restoring bank lending.
The main novelties of the Restructuring Law are as follows:
On 29 December 2012, pursuant to the order of the Commercial Court of the Kyiv Region, the bankruptcy proceedings in respect of Aerosvit were initiated based on the application of the debtor. Pursuant to the said order the court introduced the procedure of administration of debtor's assets, appointed the administrator of assets and imposed moratorium on satisfaction of creditors' claims.
On 19 January 2013, a new edition of the Law of Ukraine "On rehabilitation of debtor or its bankruptcy" (the “Bankruptcy Law”) came into force. The Bankruptcy Law provides for the possibility of a pre-bankruptcy rehabilitation of a debtor which may be introduced by the court on the debtor’s or the creditor’s request. During the pre-bankruptcy rehabilitation of the debtor bankruptcy proceedings cannot be commenced in court, and the court may establish a moratorium on the satisfaction of the creditors’ claims.
On 18 January 2013 the Law of Ukraine on Introducing Changes to the Law on Restoring Debtor Solvency or Declaring Bankruptcy (the “New Bankruptcy Law”) became effective. The new Bankruptcy Law introduces a number of important changes to the bankruptcy procedure in Ukraine.
Insolvency and Restructuring International Vol 10 No 1 March 2016 23 Karyn Heavenrich Alexander is an associate in King & Spalding’s financial restructuring practice. Karyn’s practice focuses on the areas of bankruptcy law and corporate restructuring matters, with a particular focus on international insolvency proceedings. individuals, non-individuals and foreign proceedings. The new bankruptcy petition incorporates many of the ancillary filings into the petition itself.
On 22 September 2011, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine No. 3795-VI “On Amendments to Several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding the Regulation of Legal Relations between Creditors and Receivers of Financial Services” (the “Law”). The Law, among other changes, introduced amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Restoring Debtor’s Solvency or Recognising it Bankrupt”, No. 2343-XII, dated 14 May 1992, as amended (the “Bankruptcy Law”).