Following the outbreak of a global pandemic unprecedented in recent memory, the UK is now reeling from the devastating effects of the coronavirus. Small and medium-sized businesses throughout the nation will already have been forced to come to terms with this new reality, through a combination of staff illness, forced closures, supply chain disruption and loss of business.
Directors' Duties and Related Matters, in the Context of COVID-19
Updated: 02 April 2020
Scope And Purpose of This Note
This note summarises the duties that directors of companies incorporated in England and Wales are subject to.
This note explains those duties, and matters that directors should consider in relation to those duties, in the context of the developing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), commonly known as the "coronavirus" or simply, COVID-19, pandemic.
The U.K. government has announced a series of measures intended to support businesses impacted by coronavirus/COVID-19, including suspension of the wrongful trading regime, a job-retention scheme and a temporary ban on the eviction of commercial tenants.
Suspension of Wrongful Trading Regime
On 28 March 2020, the Business Secretary, Alok Sharma, announced new insolvency measures to support companies under pressure as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. In summary, the government is due to: (i) implement the landmark changes to the corporate insolvency regime that were announced in August 2018 (as discussed in Weil’s European Restructuring Watch update on 7 September 2018); and (ii) temporarily and retrospectively suspend wrongful trading provisions for three months.
Proposed Changes to the Corporate Insolvency Regime
To Our Clients and Friends Memorandum March 30, 2020 Copyright © 2020 Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP A Delaware Limited Liability Partnership 1 COVID-19 Pandemic: Key UK Government and Bank of England Initiatives to Support Businesses * In light of the rapidly developing situation and government response, this memorandum is current as of March 29, 2020. The rapid transmission of COVID-19 around the world has had a transformative impact on economies, politics and societies. Europe and the United States, in particular, have now emerged as epicentres of the pandemic.
Since the beginning of March, the UK has seen various high profile company failures as a result (at least in part) of COVID-19. Flybe and Laura Ashley may be the first of many businesses unable to react and adapt to the unprecedented challenges.
Directors' Duties and Related Matters, in the Context of COVID-19
25 March 2020
Scope And Purpose of This Note
This note summarises the duties that directors of companies incorporated in England and Wales are subject to.
This note explains those duties, and matters that directors should consider in relation to those duties, in the context of the developing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), commonly known as the "coronavirus" or simply, COVID-19, pandemic.
Correct as of 16.00 on 24 March 2020. This article is being maintained.
The global COVID-19 outbreak is presenting businesses with unprecedented challenges. In the last two weeks the UK Government has announced a raft of COVID-19 liquidity and tax assistance measures for businesses and individuals.
In our last article, which can be found here, we reported on the government’s intention to give HMRC priority in the recovery of certain debts (including VAT, PAYE, Employee NICs, and Construction Industry Scheme deductions ) in insolvency proceedings.
In last week's Government budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that Crown preference would return but that this would be delayed to 1 December 2020. We previously wrote about Crown preference in November 2018 when the Government first suggested its return. That post, which is available here, is a handy summary of what Crown preference is and its impact on secured creditors.