We act for insolvency practitioners, lenders and business owners on all aspects of corporate restructuring and insolvency.
Our client base includes a number of North West based and nationally based insolvency practitioners, most of whom we have advised for many years. They welcome our practical and commercial advice and our responsiveness. We advise them on the full range of insolvency processes.
Where commercial lenders have clients who are struggling to pay their debts, or are involved in an insolvency process, we assist the lenders in recovering their funds.
When businesses are having financial difficulties, we are able to advise the owners on the best solutions for their situation, whether that be a formal process such as administration, or an informal restructuring, a managed turnaround and refinance or just general commercial and practical advice.
We also regularly advise purchasers who are buying distressed businesses that may or may not be in an informal insolvency process.
There are a range of procedures available to struggling businesses including:
Insolvency is defined in the Insolvency Act 1986, but broadly it means when a company does not have sufficient assets to discharge its liabilities as they fall due.
If this occurs, there are options open to the company owners and other stakeholders, one of which is administration. Administration is an insolvency process where an insolvent company is placed under the control of an insolvency practitioner (IP) to enable the IP to achieve objectives laid down in legislation.
How does a company enter administration?
There are two ways for a company to enter administration:
By court order – an application for a court order can be made by creditors i.e. those owed money by the company, the company itself, its directors, a liquidator, a supervisor of a CVA or pursuant to legislation.
By an out of court process by lodging certain documents with the court – this process is only available to the company or its directors or a party with a qualifying floating charge (usually a bank or commercial lender).
Why would a company or its directors put it into administration?
From the date that an application is made to court or a notice of intention to appoint administrators is filed, a moratorium in respect of claims will apply to protect the company against actions from creditors. In general terms this means that creditors will not be able to issue proceedings, HMRC will not be able to distrain or issue a winding up petition against the company and the landlord will not be able to forfeit its lease. If the company is concerned that creditors may issue proceedings then administration can provide some short term protection, allowing the company to restructure.
Often companies that enter administration end up being sold or at least their businesses and assets do. Sometimes a sale is agreed prior to the company going into administration and it may be a term of completing the sale that the company is put into administration first. Such sales are known as pre-packs. Pre-packs can be a relatively quick and smooth way to continue the business with as little disruption as possible.
What are the objectives of the administration?
The first objective of an administrator is to rescue the company so it can carry on as a going concern.
If this isn’t possible then the aim is to achieve a better result for the company’s creditors than would be likely if the company was put into liquidation. If such a better result cannot be achieved, then the objective is to realise the property of the company and distribute the proceeds to the company’s secured and preferential creditors in the first instance.
Next steps
If your company is experiencing financial difficulties and you are considering administration please get in touch. We can provide initial advice about your restructuring options and introduce you to an IP.
If you are considering purchasing a business or assets from an administrator, please get in touch. We have a wealth of experience in structuring pre-pack sale agreements and advising individuals and companies on purchases of distressed businesses and assets
The rush hour commute into Manchester City Centre ground to a halt one morning last month as a disgruntled subcontractor chose to block one of the key routes with plant hire vehicles. The protest was against of non-payment by Dawnus Construction, the main contractor appointed by Manchester City Council to carry of a £15 million road improvement scheme in Manchester and Salford.
The subcontractor, Total Plant Hire (TPL), had supplied plant and machinery to Dawnus for the scheme. When Dawnus failed to pay under the terms of the contract and TPL couldn’t get through to anyone at Dawnus or the Council it took drastic action. Sadly the action was in vain as Dawnus entered Administration that same week. TPL was said to be owed £300,000 by Dawnus. So what can TPL do to recover its money?
In the case of BHL v Leumi ABL Ltd [2017] EWHC 1871 (QB) the High Court required an invoice discounter to refund excessive collection fees charged after the administration of Cobra Beers Limited.
The Neuberg family operated a business producing light metal products and traded under the name Neuberg Metal Spinners for many years. In 1998 a company operated by Mr Neuberg called Neuberg Metal Spinners Limited went into liquidation. Despite this, the family business continued to trade under the name Neuberg Metals but through a new company, Watergate Services Limited, of which Mrs Neuberg was the sole director and secretary.
Phil Farrelly is head of Bermans insolvency team and serves on Bermans board.
He has a degree in law and qualified as a solicitor in 1986.
Phil is a familiar face on the North West legal scene and has extensive experience of acting for insolvency practitioners, ABL and other lenders and directors in all aspects of corporate insolvency.
Clients find Phil approachable and responsive and value his pragmatic down to earth advice.
Clients recommended him to Legal 500 for his ‘wide range of experience, clear and pragmatic advice and good value for money’ when acting for lenders, administrators, liquidators and corporate clients and described him as ‘practical, commercial and technically strong’.
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The rush hour commute into Manchester City Centre ground to a halt one morning last month as a disgruntled subcontractor chose to block one of the key routes with plant hire vehicles. The protest was against of non-payment by Dawnus Construction, the main contractor appointed by Manchester City Council to carry of a £15 million road improvement scheme in Manchester and Salford.
