Introduction

Questions around the interplay between the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act 2002, the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act 1985, the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act 1993 and the Companies Act 1956 have frequently arisen in various high courts and the Supreme Court.

The upper house of Parliament (the Rajya Sabha) passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 on May 11 2016.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code passed by the Parliament is a welcome overhaul of the existing framework dealing with insolvency of corporates, individuals, partnerships and other entities. It paves the way for much needed reforms while focussing on creditor driven insolvency resolution.

BACKGROUND

Introduction

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) has just been passed by both Houses of the Indian Parliament. The key objectives of the Indian government in driving this legislation forward were to improve India‘s poor ranking on the ease of doing business index created by the World Bank Group and to stimulate the growth of the Indian capital markets, and the stated intention of the Code is to replace the relevant insolvency, restructuring and winding up provisions which are spread over a number of Indian statutes.

Our role

UPDATE

THE INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE, 2016 - NEW ROAD AND NEW CHALLENGES

25 May 2016

Introduction

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) was recently announced as the adjudicating authority for insolvency proceedings relating to companies, limited liability partnerships and other body corporates under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016,(1) with effect from June 1 2016.(2) The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which will hear appeals from NCLT decisions, has also been established.(3) The NCLT will have 11 benches across India.

Introduction

From an investor's standpoint, a robust and effective bankruptcy regime is a prerequisite for the development of the corporate debt market. However, the existing insolvency and bankruptcy framework is highly fragmented, which has led to complex issues on how to reconcile various statutes with one another.

The rapid growth of global economy has led to widespread international trade and this expansion in international trade has brought with it increasing possibilities of cross border insolvency proceedings. In its simplest form, Cross Border Insolvency may involve insolvency proceedings in one country with its creditors located in another country/countries on the other hand in the most complex of cases it may involve subsidiaries, assets, operations and creditors in dozens of nations.

Section 530 under the Chapter V of Part VII of the Companies Act, 1956 provides for the sequence of the payments which shall be made in the course of winding up of a company. However, Section 529A is an exception to Section 530 which starts with a notwithstanding clause providing for the overriding preferential payments. Section 529A was introduced in the Companies Act, 1956 by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1985 in order to provide a protection to the workmen and the secured lenders of the Companies.

The International Monetary Fund recently stated that Indian corporate entities are among the highest leveraged entities in the Asia Pacific region. Recent data show that non-performing assets (NPAs) have risen alarmingly from 2.2% to 3.8% of the total loan

portfolio of Indian lenders, and greater difficulties are predicted in the medium term, owing to factors such as rising interest rates, margin retention, foreign exchange costs and a perceived policy “stasis”, all of which have slowed growth and made repayment more expensive.