9. Corporate Insolvency Flashcards
What does ‘corporate insolvency’ mean?
Inability of a company to pay its debts
What are the 4 ways to demonstrate a company is ‘insolvent’ (i.e. unable to pay its debts as they fall due’?
(1) Cash-flow test - unable to pay its debts as they fall due
(2) Balance sheet test - liabilities > assets
(3) Statutory demand for sum of £750 or more and NOT satisfied after 21 days
(4) Judgment debt not satisfied after attempt to enforce
If a company becomes ‘insolvent’ what is the worst outcome?
Company enters ‘liquidation’ (‘winding up’)
On entering ‘liquidation’:
(1) What happens the company?
(2) Who is appointed?
(1) Company ceases to trade
(2) Liquidator appointed
What are the 3 key duties of a ‘liquidator’?
(1) Sells assets
(2) Distributes proceeds to creditors
(3) Review past transactions
What are 3 types of liquidation?
(1) Compulsory liquidation
(2) Creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL)
(3) Members’ voluntary liquidation (MVL)
(1) To begin the ‘Compulsory liquidation’ process, what must be presented to the court?
(2) What 2 people can present this?
(3) When will the court not grant the document in (1)?
(1) ‘Winding-up petition’
(2) Creditor (or Administrator)
(3) Company is able to pay its debts within a ‘reasonable period’
For the court to accept the ‘winding-up petition’ in ‘Compulsory liquidation’, what 2 conditions must be met?
(1) Company unable to pay its debts (4 tests) AND
(2) ‘Just and equitable’ to wind-up the company
What are the 2 types of voluntary liquidation?
(1) Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)
(2) Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL)
Who initiates a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)?
Shareholders
(NOT Creditors - creditors then take over process)
Re A Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)
(a) The company must be solvent or insolvent?
(b) What 2 resolutions must be passed?
(1) Insolvent
(2)
(a) SR - begin CVL
(b) OR - appoint liquidator
Re a Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL)
(a) The company must be solvent or insolvent?
(b) What 2 resolutions must be passed?
(a) Solvent
2
(a) SR - begin MVL
(b) OR - appoint liquidator
What are 2 ways a Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) is used for?
(1) Corporate Restructuring
(2) Closing down a company no longer needed
In liquidation, what is the statutory order of priority that assets will be distributed to? There are 6 categories.
(1) Fixed charge creditors (up to extent of their fixed charge)
(2) Liquidator’s fees / expenses
(3) Preferential debts
‘RING FENCED’ FUND taken
(4) Floating charge creditors
(5) Unsecured creditors
(6) Shareholders
On winding up a company, If the amount recovered from the sale of assets subject to a ‘fixed charge’ fails to satisfy the debt owed, how should the Creditors claim the remaining amount?
Unsecured creditors
On winding up a company, there are 2 tiers of ‘preferential creditors’. What is the main debt for (1) Tier 1 and (2) Tier 2?
Tier 1 - Unpaid wages for the 4 months before ‘winding up’ up to MAX £800
Tier 2 - Tax owed to HMRC
On winding up a company a ‘ring-fenced’ fund must be made (if funds allow). Who will this be paid to?
Unsecured creditors
On winding up a company, a ‘ring-fenced’ fund is kept for unsecured creditors.
(1) What are the 2 components used to calculate this?
(2) What is the maximum amount of the fund?
(1) 50% first £10k (owed to floating charge holders)
(2) 20% of balance (owed to floating charge holders)
(3) Up to MAX £800,000
On winding up, a liquidator has the power to investigate and set aside past transactions. What are the 4 main examples of these transactions?
(1) Floating charges
(2) Transactions at an undervalue
(3) Preference transactions
(4) Transactions defrauding creditors