Restructuring Advisory Partner David Hudson considers the outlook for corporates
There’s no denying that the latest insolvency figures make for uncomfortable reading. In 2023, there were more than 25,000 registered company insolvencies, the highest annual number since 1993 and 14% higher than 2022.
Conventional wisdom suggests there is no requirement that a debtor be “insolvent” to file a case under Chapter 11 or any other chapter of the Bankruptcy Code. No Code provision explicitly imposes such a requirement. Yet in 2023, several courts addressed the issue, and two courts directed the dismissal of massive Chapter 11 cases imposing what may fairly be characterized as an insolvency requirement.
New Zealand’s economy, like many others, has been significantly impacted by global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic hangover (inflation, supply chain shocks and high interest rates). These events have led to an increase in distressed M&A activity as healthy companies seek to acquire those in financial distress. Distressed M&A is not without its challenges. The uncertainty of the distressed company’s true value, potential liabilities, and the risk of subsequent insolvency proceedings can deter potential acquirers.
Take a look at our summary below of some of the key R&I trends and developments to look out for in 2024.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has come out with certain measures pertaining to the professional services rendered and availed byinsolvency professionals (IPs), and the framework for insolvency professional entities (IPEs).[1]
The UK government has updated the 30-year-old special administration regime for water companies making it possible to rescue water companies.
The new legislation (plus two draft instruments) aims to modernise water company insolvency legislation in the face of the growing challenges in the industry including higher operating costs, claims over sewage pollution and significant debt burden (Thames Water owes £18.3 billion).
New special administration regime
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), vide notifications dated February 12, 2024, and February 15, 2024, amended the IBBI (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016,[1] and the IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016,[2] respectively, in order to streaml
Jeremy Charles Frost & Anor v The Good Box Co Labs Ltd & Ors [2024] EWHC 422 (Ch) is a rare case about office-holders’ remuneration that raises some interesting points, although one at least is specific to the nature of the application before the court.
Czech Republic has recently implemented the Act on Preventive Restructuring (the Act), with effect from 23 September 2023, which offers companies in financial difficulty a chance to restructure their assets, liabilities, and capital structure.
Initiation
The preventive restructuring process may be initiated by a company if it:
TM rights in ‘Shakti Bhog’ controversy amid insolvency proceedings Amid the ongoing criminal proceedings alleging fraud and money laundering against officers of the Shakti Bhog companies and of creditor bank employees, insolvency proceedings are underway and have been for some time. A dispute concerning ownership of intellectual property rights in a valuable trade mark is part of the insolvency process.