The PPF Ombudsman has rejected an appeal by a pension scheme member which was based on the premise that the PPF compensation cap contravened European law (in this case the Insolvency Directive). The Insolvency Directive requires member states to take "necessary measures" to ensure protection of members' occupational retirement benefits upon the insolvency of an employer.
In recent years some high profile (and controversial) court decisions have swelled the list of liabilities that must be paid as expenses of an administration. Administration expenses enjoy "super priority", being payable out of floating charge realisations ahead of the claims of preferential creditors and floating charge holders. So, when an otherwise unsecured claim ranks as an administration expense, it clearly benefits the relevant creditor, but at the expense of the floating charge holder.
If a company goes into liquidation, the liquidator is able to disclaim the whole of an insolvent tenant’s liability under a lease. The disclaimer ends all of the tenant’s rights, interests and liabilities, effectively meaning that the tenant can get out of the lease early. This can have a significant impact on a landlord, whose expected income from the property suddenly comes to an end.
In Bailey & Others (Joint Liquidators of D&D Wines International Limited) v Angove’s Pty Limited1, the Court of Appeal overturned a decision of the High Court, and so permitted the liquidator of an insolvent agent to recover funds due to it from end-customers despite the agency having been terminated.
Background
Historically, HMRC has allowed insolvency practitioners to, at an early stage following their
appointment, cancel the VAT registration of the insolvent business. Practitioners have then been
entitled to account for VAT on any subsequent supplies using HMRC’s form VAT 833 (Statement of
Value Added Tax on goods sold in satisfaction of a debt).
Key points
- In order to rescind a winding up order the court must be satisfied that the circumstances of the case are materially different to those before the court that made the winding up order.
- A stay of a winding up order would not be made as an alternative route was available.
Facts
Key points
- Section 306 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (“1986 Act”) provides that a bankrupt’s estate shall vest immediately in the trustee in bankruptcy and no registration is required to effect that vesting;
- A bankrupt’s tenancy had vested in the trustee so that the bankrupt was no longer the qualifying tenant for the purposes of enfranchisement under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 (“1967 Act”).
The facts
From 6 April 2014 Industrial and Provident Societies (IPSs) will be able to enter administration or make a voluntary arrangement with creditors. Formerly winding up was the only option for an insolvent IPS.
This is a significant development as it extends the corporate rescue culture to these societies, which would otherwise face closure in times of financial distress.
What is an Industrial and Provident Society?
On 24 February 2014 the Court of Appeal delivered its long awaited judgment in the GAME Group litigation (Pillar Denton Limited & Ors -v- Jervis & Ors).
This is an extremely important decision and will affect every trading administration where the company is a tenant.
The recent Court of Appeal decision in Rawlinson and Hunter Trustees SA & others v Akers & another [2014] serves to emphasise that third party reports commissioned by liquidators to enable them to consider whether litigation should be commenced in order to make recoveries for the benefit of creditors will not always attract litigation privilege.