10. Insolvency Flashcards
Personal Insolvency
What is an individual voluntary arrangement?
Agreement between individual debtor and all creditors where each agrees to accept less than is owed or extend period to pay.
- Flexible arrangement
- Generally require payment from debtor’s income or assets.
- No determinate length of time - usual 3-5 years.
What companies are precluded from applying for statutory moratoriums?
1) Financial services firms (ie. bank and insurance companies)
2) Listed companies w/ value of more than £10 million.
Personal Insolvency
What is the advantage of an IVA to a debtor?
- Avoids the stigma and restrictions associated with bankruptcy;
- It can bind all unsecured creditors; and
- A moratorium is available if an interim order is made.
Personal Insolvency
What is the advantage of an IVA to a creditor?
They may receive more money than in a bankruptcy proceeding, and more quickly
Who are two examples of a preferential creditor?
- Employees owed wages up to £800, from past four months
- HMRC in respect of VAT, PAYE, and National Insurance
Personal Insolvency
What is bankruptcy?
A judicial process in which assets of a bankrupt debtor are passed to a third party, the trustee in bankruptcy, who liquidates the assets and uses the proceeds to pay off as many debts as possible, in a strict order set out by legislation
Personal Insolvency
What period after a bankruptcy application is a debtor deemed discharged from the debts?
One year
Personal Insolvency
What are the three ways a debtor can be placed into bankruptcy?
- Debtor’s petition - where it declares itself bankrupt.
* unable to pay its debts
* Statement of affairs - evidencing this. - Creditor’s petition -
* unable to pay its debts - evidenced (i) by statutory demand if an unsecured creditor (£5000 or more) that has not been satisfied within 3 weeks of service; or (ii) judgement debtor.
* Statement of affairs - evidencing this. - Supervisor or creditor can apply if debtor has breached IVA
Pesonal Insolvency
Who is the official receiver?
A civil servant who will act as the trustee in bankruptcy unless creditors seek to nominate their own.
AUTOMATIC appointment
Note - if there are few assets in the bankruptcy estate, it may be difficult to persuade anyone else to act as Trustee as there will be insufficient funds to pay fees and expenses.
Personal Insolvency
What assets is a bankrupt able to retain?
Assets needed for day-to-day living, including furniture, and any tools required for their job
Personal Insolvency
What is an income payments order, and what is the maximum length of one?
Although a bankrupt is entitled to retain any salary they make, if the salary exceeds the amount needed for the reasonable needs of them and their family, an income payments order can be made, for a maximum of three years
Personal Insolvency
What three things is a debtor in a bankruptcy restricted from doing?
- Apply for credit over £500 without disclosing bankruptcy.
- Act as company director or partner
- Trade under another name without disclosing the bankruptcy
Personal Insolvency
What is the order of priority in a bankruptcy distribution?
- Costs of the bankruptcy
- Preferential debts
- Secured creditors
- Unsecured creditors
- Postponed creditors
Personal Insolvency
Who is a postponed creditor?
Spouse or civil partner
Personal Insolvency
What occurs if a partner in a partnership at will is made bankrupt?
Partnership is dissolved and the trustee receives any money due to the insolvent partner
Personal Insolvency
What occurs if a partner in a partnership not at will is made bankrupt, and what is required for this?
If the partnership agreement provides that bankruptcy of a partner will not terminate the partnership, the remaining partners will usually purchase the bankrupt partner’s interest from the trustee
What is fixed asset receivership?
Where secured creditor appoints a fixed charge receivers are appointed pursuant to the terms of the relevant security document to enforce the security, manage and sell the secured assets.
* owe their duties primarily and exclusively to the appointor.
* cannot be appointed while a pre-insolvency moratorium subsists or if the company is in administration.
What percentage of creditors must agree to a Restructuring plan and does it bind those who do not vote for it?
75% in value of the debts owe in each respective class, and binds all creditors if passed.
- court has the power to force plan unto an unwilling class via cross-class clampdown.
What two conditions are needed for the court to order a cross-class clampdown in the context of adopting a Restructing Plan?
1) Satisfied none of the dissenting class would be worse off if the arrangement was approved
2) creditors representing 75% in value of debts owed in each class = receive £££ or genuine economic interest.
What three things are prohibited when a company seeks a moratorium?
- Creditors cannot take action to enforce their rights or launch proceedings
- Landlord may not forfeit lease of company premises
- Floating charge holder may not crystallise charge
Corporate Insolvency
What is the exception to the payment holiday a company enjoys during a moratorium?
Wages and other payments to employees, including holiday pay
Corporate Insolvency
What are the ways an administrator can be appointed?
- Court appointment - on application of directors, a creditor, supervisor of CV, the company, or a liquidator.
* where application is made, interim moratorium comes into effect until the adminsitration order is made/applciation is dismissed.
* uncommon procedure, generally out-of court - Out-of-court - directors/company or holder of a qualifying floating charge file certain documents in court
* file a NOI at court.
Corporate Insolvency
If the court appointment is used for an administrator, what two things must the court be satisfied of?
- Company unable to pay debts
- Administrator likely to achieve better result for the creditors than liquidation
Corporate Insolvency
If the company or directors appoint the administrator, who must they notify and what can they do?
They must notify any qualifying charge holders, who can agree or appoint an alternative administrator.
* two different filings of a NOI - gives QFC chance to appoint alternative choice after first NOI.
Corporate Insolvency
What is a qualifying floating charge?
Floating charge over the whole or substantially whole of the company’s assets
AND
Document creating it or enables it to appoint an administrator or receiver.
Corporate Insolvency
What are four powers of an administrator?
- Take control of and sell company assets
- Bring and defend legal proceedings on behalf of the company (i.e. against directors for fraudulent/wronglful trading)
- Carry out the company’s business
- Remove and appount directors
- Dispute of property subjective to floating or fixed charged.
Corporate Insolvency
Generally, what proportion of the value of the creditors must agree to an administrator’s proposals?
Majority in value of creditors present and voting at the meeting
- subject to special rule on minority votes (not pass if unconnected creds with 50% in value of debts owed vote against)
Corporate Insolvency
What are the benefits of administration?
Company has the benefit of a full moratorium.
1. No order or resolution to wind up the company can be made or passed;
2. No administrative receiver of the company can be appointed;
3. No steps can be taken to enforce any security over the company’s property or to repossess goods subject to security, hire purchase and retention of title;
4 .No legal proceedings, execution or other process can be commenced or continued against the company or its property, and
5. A landlord cannot forfeit a lease of the company’s premises.
However, during this time, all business documents and the company’s website must state that the company is in administration.
Corporate Insolvency
What is a Company Voluntary Arrangement?
Basically an IVA for companies, approved if:
1) At least 75% in value (i.e, value of debts owed) of those voting on the CVA proposal (excluding secured creditors) vote in favour;
* if the above majority is obtained, the decision of will be invalid if those voting against the CVA proposal include more than half of the total value of creditors unconnected to the company; and
2) Simple majority of shareholders/members vote in favour.
Corporate Insolvency
What are the advantages of CVA for companies?
- Directors remain in control of the company,
- Company can continue to trade subject to the terms of the CVA proposal with the hope of the company surviving as a going concern.
Trade creditors tend to support CVAs as they are likely to recover more than if the company goes into administration or liquidation.
Corporate Insolvency
What is a Members’ voluntary winding up (MVL)?
Where members control liquidation and company is solvent.
* directors make a sworn declaration of solvency - of the opinion that the company will be able to repay its debts in full in next 12 months.
* declaration must include a statement of the company’s assets and liabilities as of the latest practicable date before making the declaration.
What is a Creditors’ voluntary winding up (CVL)?
Form of insolvent liquidation commenced by resolution of the shareholders, but under the effective control of the creditors who can choose the liquidator.
* shareholders pass a special resolution to place the company into a CVL and an ordinary resolution to appoint a nominated liquidator.
* give notice to company’s creditors to either approve the nominated liquidator or put forward their own choice of liquidator.
What is the main reason the directors would commence a CVL?
The directors are advised the company is insolvent, and do not wish to be personally liable for the debts of the company through fraudulent or wrongful trading if they continue to trade
Corporate Insolvency
What are the two steps required within the company to begin a CVL?
- Directors pass a board a resolution stating the company is insolvent and should be placed into liquidation
- Members pass special resolution to start the liquidation