End of Temporary Insolvency Measures

Creditor Enforcement to Re-commence

Since June last year, the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 included temporary measures that prevented creditors from serving statutory demands or presenting winding up petitions, other than exceptional circumstances.

These measures have previously been extended with the latest extension up to 30 September 2021.  However, it has been announced today (8 September) no further extensions shall be sanctioned.  In short, creditors will be able to use statutory demands and winding up petitions to enforce debt positions with effect from 1 October.

In an effort to cushion the threatened explosion of winding up petitions, the removal of these temporary provisions has been tempered slightly by adding some interim provisions that will be in force until 31 March 2022:

  1. To protect businesses from creditors insisting on repayment of relatively small debts the current minimum debt threshold for a winding up petition has been increased from £750 to £10,000

 

  1. Creditors shall be required to seek proposals for payment from a debtor business, giving them 21 days for a response before they can proceed with winding up action.

However, existing restrictions will remain in place for commercial landlords whereby presenting winding up petitions against limited companies to repay commercial rent arrears built up during the pandemic is prohibited.  This is consistent with the continued moratorium over commercial landlords where tenants will remain protected from eviction until 31 March 2022, whilst the government implements a rent arbitration scheme to deal with commercial rent debts accrued during the pandemic.

In response to this announcement, Gary Pettit of PBC said,

“It was inevitable the CIGA moratorium on creditor enforcement would end, particularly as the interim provisions were becoming a “Debtors’ charter” and damaging the economy overall.  The hike in minimum petition debt is welcome and should be made a more permanent monetary limitation but time will tell.  With the likes of HMRC being unleashed on about 18 months’ worth of tax debts life could get challenging for businesses where debt has accrued.  The potential of an explosion of debt enforcement activity means businesses need to think about their position and take early advice as the earlier that advice is taken, the more options that are generally available.”

Should you have an insolvency-related issue then please contact Gary Pettit at PBC Business Recovery & Insolvency on (01604) 212150 (Northampton office) or (01234) 834886 (Bedford office). Alternatively, you may send an email to garypettit@pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk or access our website at www.pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk

How are you paid?

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As the heading asks, how are you paid?  Is it a fixed salary, flexible hourly rate or on target earnings, or a combination of these?

In just over 32 years working in the insolvency profession I have been confronted with a wide variety of challenges.  However, the single most challenging task is when informing people, they are being made redundant.  It is my own fear, and I will never get used to being that messenger, even if those unfortunate employees being made redundant is for the greater good of saving a business.

When a company enters into a formal insolvency procedure, in most cases employees are entitled to make a claim for their entitlements against the Redundancy Payments Service (“RPS”).  The one regular surprise (it would appear) is that employee claimants includes directors provided they are able to demonstrate they were also employees at the time.

Generally speaking, the entitlements are wage arrears, accrued/unpaid holiday, redundancy and payment in lieu of notice.  In most cases, these claims are assessed quite easily.  You enter your fixed pay details and what you are owed on the online application.  However, what if you are on flexible hours or your income fluctuates due to commission earnings, so you are unable to insert a definitive earning figure?  This has been an issue for as long as I can remember, and “Best guess” tended to be the answer.  A recent announcement has been made by RPS that should partially address this issue.

With effect from 12 April 2021 employees with variable pay are being asked to calculate their entitlements based upon their 52-week average rate of pay.  I say, “Partially” because no computer system can fully address the large divergence in vocations and some employees could actually lose out.  For example, if you were paid commissions based upon holiday bookings, it is fair to assume earnings have been lower than normal over the past 52 weeks due to the pandemic restrictions.  Conversely, an estate agent may have seen an increase in their earnings due to the suspension of stamp duty enhancing property sales.  The question is, will RPS make an exceptional allowance for the impact of COVID?  I would suggest unlikely.

Should predictions be correct once the Government support programmes end, corporate insolvencies will increase and no doubt, the media will make plenty of noise over the scale of redundancies inherit with corporate failure and restructuring.  This prediction will place RPS under considerable pressure and payment target times will be challenged as a result, exposing those made redundant to a difficult time while they await entitlements.

Should you have an insolvency-related issue then please contact me at PBC Business Recovery & Insolvency on (01604) 212150 (Northampton office) or (01234) 834886 (Bedford office). Alternatively, you may send an email to garypettit@pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk or access our website at www.pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk

Are we heading for an economic cliff?

How prepared are you for when the COVID-related financial support and other interim measures fall away? 

With the impact of COVID the Government laid down, what was to become the Corporate Insolvency & Governance Act 2020 (“CIGA”) which became law in June 2020 and had retrospective effect to March 2020.  CIGA was seen as a balancing act between the detrimental impact the severe restrictions would have for trading on one hand against shielding business from depleted cash flow on the other.

In January the House of Lords debated over the continued restrictions on creditor enforcement imposed by CIGA.  These restrictions were intended to expire on 30 September but were extended to 31 December and subsequently 31 March 2021.  In general, the restrictions prevented the service of statutory demands/winding up petitions, landlord enforcement and suspended wrongful trading provisions.  As a result of these restrictions, the latest data suggests an unprecedented level of debt has accrued, including over £4.5 billion in rent arrears.

Furthermore, there is an estimated £70 billion of Government-backed lending, together with deferred tax liabilities, which is most likely going to make HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) a major creditor in most insolvencies, resulting in them having significant influence on the destiny of businesses.  This influence is made all the greater following the upgrading of HMRC to secondary preferential status when formal insolvency is required.

So, what is the good news?

Well, the Government have announced an easing of bounce back loan repayments in an effort to ease cash flow demands.  In addition, recognising the resulting position of HMRC and the detrimental effect COVID has caused generally, the House of Lords have stressed HMRC need to be co-operative and engaging with a supportive approach on proposed COVID-affected corporate restructuring.  Clearly, time will tell on this recommendation and I would say this commercial understanding needs to be wider by including landlords and credit controllers who are all seeking recoveries.

I asked in the title whether we are heading towards an economic cliff.  Personally, I would suggest “Normal” (whatever that is) will not occur over night.  So, rather than a cliff as COVID restrictions ease off, maybe the economy will experience a gradual slope.

Whatever the outcome businesses need to be pro-active.  Review your cash flow and look at ways of reducing overheads, particularly while your turnover gradually starts to return to pre-COVID levels.  You should engage with your creditors and for those who are owed money, a commercial understanding is going to be the order of the day.  If all fails, the advice has to be to seek early advice.  It is no coincidence those who do seek early advice find they have more options available then those who leave it until the last minute.  As a Scout will say, “Be prepared.”

Should you have an insolvency-related issue then please contact me at PBC Business Recovery & Insolvency on (01604) 212150 (Northampton office) or (01234) 834886 (Bedford office). Alternatively, you may send an email to garypettit@pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk or access our website at www.pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk

Lockdown 2 – Open for Business and Support

The news none of us wished to hear was announced with the UK being placed under lockdown until 2 December 2020.  This could not be any worse for many businesses who are believing this maybe the final straw.

At PBC we recognise businesses need access to advice and assistance without any delay.  Accordingly, the PBC Team continue to be available, while also recognising the need to comply with the lockdown provisions.

There are some key dates advisors should be aware of when assisting your clients.  These include:

  • Crown preferential status returns on 1 December.  This will relate to all unpaid tax liabilities on any formal insolvency procedure that comes into effect on or after 1 December and could impair any effort of restructuring a business.
  • Under reforms to The Corporate Insolvency & Governance Act 2020 two interim prohibitions were extended to 31 December.  These are:
  • Serving of statutory demands or presentation of winding up petitions; and
  • A landlord of commercial property may not take enforcement action against a tenant for amounts due that fall within the COVID interim period.

 

A more concerning point of note is the freezing of the wrongful trading period was not extended beyond 30 October.  Accordingly, directors and business owners alike are now exposed to personal liability or (where an individual is made bankrupt) a bankruptcy restrictions order should they continue to increase liabilities with no reasonable prospect of avoiding insolvent liquidation or bankruptcy.  The inability to trade (as a result of lockdown) does not stop liabilities from continuing to accrue so clients need to assess the financial position of their business and take early advice

What superpower would you have if you could?

What superpower would you have if you could?  Invisibility? Being able to fly? Teleportation?  Or how about being able to re-write the law to suit yourself and ensure you are always on the right side?  That’s exactly what the government has done with two measures in the Finance Act 2020.

 

The first is the position where HM Revenue & Customs rank for dividend purposes.  For insolvencies commencing after 1 December 2020, HMRC shall rank as a secondary preferential creditor for the majority of taxes owed by the insolvent party where that party has acted as a collector of taxes.  This includes PAYE, VAT, CIS and employee’s NI contributions (but not any penalties associated with those debts).  “Secondary preferential” means their preferential status ranks after existing preferential claims (generally employee claims for wages and accrued holiday pay) but in priority to the holder of floating charge security.  HMRC will remain an unsecured creditor for other taxes including corporation tax and employer’s NI contributions.  To summarise, HMRC have therefore jumped to pretty much the top of the priority order in one fell swoop.

 

As a direct result of this, The Association of Business Recovery Professionals estimate that future new lending by banks will be £1 billion less, making recovery and turnaround harder.  To make things worse, the ability to use a formal insolvency vehicle (such as a company voluntary arrangement) may no longer be a viable option as.  the unpaid taxes rank ahead of the general body of creditors, reducing the amount available to unsecured creditors.  Furthermore, it is likely there will be a significant HMRC debt as generally HMRC are the first creditor businesses and individuals stop paying – indeed this is one of the Government’s main reasons for introducing the measure.

 

The second new measure contained within the new law is where HMRC can issue personal liability notices against company directors following tax avoidance and evasion penalties and repeated insolvencies.

 

There are various conditions which must be met before HMRC can issue personal liability notices, but all involve scenarios where the company is insolvent (or likely to be).  In the tax avoidance and evasion cases, the directors can be held liable for all of the tax avoided (and any penalties as a result).  However, in the circumstances following repeated insolvencies the directors can be held liable for debts of the failed companies as well as for any future tax debt of a new company.

 

Before you come over all Lance Corporal Jones (Don’t Panic!) this legislation is aimed at those who act in a deliberate manner of tax avoidance/evasion.  It is not aimed at those who have missed the payment deadline for this month’s PAYE (provided you do still pay that is) or your overall circumstances demonstrate, as a director, you have acted honestly and fairly to creditors as a whole.

 

Having said that, the key message that should be derived from this legislation is if you feel there is an increasing difficulty in managing the company tax affairs, or liabilities as a whole, then seek early advice.  Creditors, including HMRC, are generally understanding where they learn of a possible issue at an early stage rather than wait until the need for enforcement procedures commences.  In addition, the earlier advice is sought the more options there are available.

 

Anyone with an insolvency related issue can contact PBC on 01604 212150.  Our initial consultations are always free, confidential, impartial and no obligation.

Jamie Cochrane

Is Corporate Recovery Doomed?

There is a saying about giving with your right hand but then take back with your left.  Well, that appears to be the case where the Government are concerned.

Firstly, the Corporate Insolvency & Governance Act 2020 became law and is intended to assist businesses recover post the COVID-19 pandemic.  While I am sceptical about this, any remote positivity was dashed with the Finance Act 2020 receiving Royal Assent on 22 July 2020.  The significance of this is the re-introduction of Crown preferential status on all insolvencies.  This is despite significant objection from various parties and some MPs.

With effect from insolvencies commencing after 1 December 2020, HMRC shall rank as a secondary preferential creditor for the majority of taxes owed by the insolvent party where that party has acted as a collector of taxes.  Therefore, this includes PAYE, VAT, CIS and employee’s NI contributions (but not any penalties associated with those debts).  Secondary preferential means their preferential status ranks after existing preferential claims (generally employee claims for wages and accrued holiday pay) but in priority to the holder of floating charge security.  HMRC will remain an unsecured creditor for other taxes including corporation tax and employer’s NI contributions.

As a direct result of this, The Association of Business Recovery Professionals estimate that £1 billion of potential lending will be removed, making recovery and turnaround harder as the access to new working capital is reduced.  To compound the recovery difficulties, whether a business can secure fresh borrowing or not, using a formal insolvency vehicle (such as a company voluntary arrangement) may no longer be a viable option.  This is due to the unpaid taxes ranking ahead of the general body of creditors and having to be fully paid before those unsecured creditors receive any funds.  Furthermore, it is likely that there will be a significant HMRC debt as our experience is HMRC are the first creditor to go unpaid during any cash-flow crisis – indeed this is one of the Government’s main reasons for introducing the measure.

On first glance, Crown preferential status will only impact those where the insolvency commences on or after 1 December 2020.  However, a cynic would point out there may not be any appetite for HMRC to support the restructuring of a business prior to this date where they remain an unsecured creditor, ranking with creditors as a whole.

Should you have an insolvency-related issue or a corporate dispute then please contact Gary Pettit at PBC Business Recovery & Insolvency on (01604) 212150 (Northampton office) or (01234) 834886 (Bedford office). Alternatively, you may send an email to garypettit@pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk or access our website at www.pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk

 

The Preference Trap?

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My most recent blog on the Chancellor’s support schemes  (available here) included comments on the Bounce Back Loan scheme.  One question I have received following that blog focussed on how using the funds from the loan to pay off debts personally guaranteed by the director would be treated (as the Bounce Back Loan scheme does not involve any personal guarantee) and I thought I would take the opportunity to explain the situation.

 

The Insolvency Act 1986 states “a company gives a preference to a person if that person is one of the company’s creditors or a surety or guarantor for any of the company’s debts or liabilities and the company does anything…..[which puts] that person which, in the event of the company going into insolvent liquidation, will be better than the position he would have been if that thing had not been done”.

 

So let’s unpick that legal jargon for a moment by revisiting the scenario.  The director was a guarantor for a company debt.  The company did something which put the director in a better position – by paying off the debt which had been guaranteed and removing the potential for the creditor to call on the guarantee.

 

However, that is not the whole situation.  The liquidator has to prove three things:

 

  1. The transaction took place at a relevant time. As the director is a connected party, the transaction must have taken place in the two years prior to the liquidation.

 

  1. The company must have had the desire to prefer the individual who received the preferential treatment. As the director is a connected party, this desire is presumed (but can be rebutted by the director).

 

  1. The company was insolvent at the time of the transaction or as a result of the transaction. Clearly, this fact is subjective on the facts of each individual case.

 

Let’s return to our scenario.  Could the company have taken out a bounce back loan to repay other business borrowing (whether or not guaranteed) to take advantage of the low interest rates on the Bounce Back Loan versus their existing borrowing?  Therefore, the director may argue that the desire was not there as they were seeking to improve the cash-flow of the business, but that argument would be stronger if contemporaneous notes (something I strongly advise) were made explaining the thinking behind the transactions, particularly as such transactions may be challenged several years later.

 

As previously stated, each scenario will depend on its own facts.  Should you be worried about your position or you have another insolvency-related issue then please contact me at PBC Business Recovery & Insolvency on (01604) 212150 (Northampton office) or (01234) 834886 (Bedford office). Alternatively, you may send an email to jamiecochrane@pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk or access our website at www.pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk

 

Will the government support schemes make things worse?

Whilst we all might have our views on how Boris Johnson, Matt Hancock et al have handled the health impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, one politician who has emerged with his reputation enhanced is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, and that’s not just because he has been nicknamed “Dishy Rishi”.

 

Whilst there is inevitably some people who have fallen through the cracks, the Chancellor’s support schemes have included the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (commonly known as the furlough scheme) – with 9.4million employees furloughed as at 5 July 2020, the Self-Employment Income Support scheme – with 3.5million people supported, and CBILS and Bounce Back Loans totalling £45billion as at 5 July 2020.

 

While this is a staggering amount of support that Mr Sunak has offered to UK businesses, there’s the potentially slightly controversial opinion that these schemes make things worse for the directors and their companies.

 

At PBC, we always raise awareness about seeking advice at the earliest possible opportunity as this gives the greatest chance of survival, the largest range of options available and minimises the risk of directors entering the “elephant traps” of antecedent transactions or breaches of their statutory duties.  But we are worried that some directors are believing that the government support schemes, combined with the suspension of wrongful trading provisions from 1 March – 30 September 2020, mean that their business will be fine once the Covid-19 restrictions are fully lifted and trading conditions return to business as normal.

 

However, while the furlough scheme helped towards wages and other schemes were designed to support business survival, liabilities such as utilities, rent, financial commitments etc will have continued to accrue.  In addition, it is unlikely that conditions will return to a “Pre Covid normal” for a significant period of time and businesses should be focussing on how they will adapt to the “new-normal” and ensure that they remain solvent and their cashflow is healthy.

 

Our concerns about the schemes making things worse are highlighted by a well published survey that reports just under half of Bounce Back Loans will not be repaid.  Are these loans being taken out purely to see the business survive for a few more months and enable the director to profit from the business before it fails?  Bounce Back Loans were publicised with no liability on the director or that no recovery action could be taken against a borrower’s main home.  However, while the loans were for business purposes only we have heard of scenarios where the loans have been taken into the company and then used to pay off the director’s personal debt.  This could lead to personal liability for the director and we urge all directors to seek independent advice on the use of the benefits received from the schemes

 

Should you have an insolvency-related issue then please contact me at PBC Business Recovery & Insolvency on (01604) 212150 (Northampton office) or (01234) 834886 (Bedford office). Alternatively, you may send an email to jamiecochrane@pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk or access our website at www.pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk

 

Jamie Cochrane

Seller beware? – The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill

CashflowAs a service provider or supplier, what is your first reaction when you hear your customer is entering into an insolvency process?  Anger, frustration, can I recover items supplied or, how do we make good the financial hole that bad debt will create?

It is an emotional event but, what if you were told your termination clause is no longer enforceable or you must continue to supply the insolvent customer?

On 4 June the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill (“The Bill”) received its second reading in Parliament and it is envisaged to become law by the end of June.  It will introduce some temporary provisions (to cover the COVID-19 lockdown) that will have retrospective effect and some permanent law, which is the focus of this editorial.

So, let us explore the four key provisions that are all aimed and restructuring and rescuing a company:

Restructuring scheme

This appears to modernise the current scheme of arrangement available under the Companies Act.  It is most likely a tool used for complex debt restructuring where there are several classes of creditors.  For example, a retail chain where there are suppliers, employees, landlords and financial institutions that are likely to be affected in differing ways.

The big reliance of this scheme is, what has been referred to as “Cross-class clam down”.  Try saying that quickly!  What this means is classes of creditors may out vote a dissenting class of creditor, provided the dissenting class of creditor will not be worse off than if an alternative insolvency procedure was used.  This does represent a shift in the balance of power in creditor voting

Moratorium

This is the largest part of the Bill and sets out a new provision designed to give an “Eligible company” the opportunity of a short holiday from creditors while it looks at ways to restructure its business.

Where a company is not subject to any insolvency proceedings the directors can file an application at court for a moratorium, without any notice to creditors.  The moratorium comes into force immediately upon the application being filed at court.

So, what does this mean?  A moratorium has very similar effects to administration whereby creditors cannot enforce any security held, landlords may not exercise their right of forfeiture or peaceable re-entry and any legal processes may not be commenced or continued.

The initial period will be 20 business days (this maybe increased to 30 business days for “Small companies”).  The directors may extend it for a further 20 business days, or with creditor consent it can be extended for up to 12 months.

While it needs an insolvency practitioner involved (to be called, “The Monitor”) their position is generally to monitor the company during this period, primarily based upon information provided by the directors.  It is envisaged a moratorium will be used as a form of protection while the company considers and/or proposes to enter into a company voluntary arrangement, although it could result in the outcome looking more terminal whereby liquidation may be the outcome.

Any supplier who supplies the company during the moratorium period must be paid (or payment provided for) otherwise the moratorium should be terminated.  Once terminated, any unpaid post moratorium creditors will enjoy a “Super priority” in the subsequent insolvency procedure.  However, that could be small consolation if there are no distributable assets!

Ipso facto clauses

Okay, most of us will ask what that means and does it apply to me?  In English, this is a clause within your terms and conditions of trade that state the contract shall terminate upon the customer entering into any form of insolvency.

A new section 233B is being inserted into the Insolvency Act whereby such termination clauses shall be considered void and no longer be enforceable.

Continuation of supply

The Insolvency (Protection of Essential Supplies) Order 2015 already prohibits suppliers from refusing to supply an insolvent company and/or seeking to vary the terms as a condition of continued supply.

However, the Bill takes this further and makes it clear it is unlawful to hold out for ransom payments (ie demanding pre-insolvency debts are paid as a condition of supply).  This could cause some practical difficulties, including if you have credit insurance, yet pre-insolvency you had reached the credit limit with the insolvent company.  The only protection it appears you have is being told your post insolvency debt shall be paid as an expense of the moratorium period or, failing that, holds “Super priority” in the subsequent insolvency.  Small comfort, I would suggest.

The key message for suppliers is to keep track of your customers (in terms of the warning signs leading to failure) and ensure they stay within credit limits you feel comfortable providing.

Should you have an insolvency-related issue or a corporate dispute then please contact Gary Pettit at PBC Business Recovery & Insolvency on (01604) 212150 (Northampton office) or (01234) 834886 (Bedford office). Alternatively, you may send an email to garypettit@pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk or access our website at www.pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk

A Business Adviser? Come to our free seminar on Personal Liability

To be held at Kettering Park Hotel on May 13th.

Looking at the hot topics that could affect you and your clients including

  • Re-use of prohibitive name
  • HMRC hot potatoes
  • Dividends
  • The Warning Signs

Plus we are looking to cover topics arising from The Budget

RSVP: lisaparker@pbcbusinessrecovery.co.uk

 

DUE TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS THE SEMINAR HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL BE REVISITED IN SEPTEMBER DEPENDING UPON GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES