In this article, Scott Atkins and Dr Kai Luck consider how the extraordinary government fiscal and stimulus measures introduced in response to COVID-19 may provide an incentive for so-called zombie companies—those that were facing endemic operational and liquidity issues pre-crisis and that have no realistic prospect of successful trade in the long-term—to continue on for the next 6 to 12 months, preventing the recycling of important capital needed to reinvest in the innovative new business…

Scott Atkins and Dr Kai Luck examine in this article how underlying corporate governance and risk failures may have contributed to boards being caught so off-guard by COVID-19 and how COVID-19 ‘tunnel vision’ (focused only on pandemic-related business continuity and risk management plans) may lead to companies being exposed to equally devastating risks in other contexts—including climate change and cybersecurity—as the economic recovery period commences across the globe.…

In this article, Scott Atkins and Dr Kai Luck look at the important role Australian courts can play in creating a stronger corporate and business rescue culture to help financially distressed but long-term viable entities navigate the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Since this article was written, the Federal Court of Australia granted further orders on 13 and 15 May 2020 exempting the voluntary administrators from personal liability for new contracts entered into as they…

In recognition of the significant economic impact of COVID-19, several jurisdictions have passed (or propose to pass) legislation to provide temporary relief for directors of businesses in financial distress, and hopefully mitigate some of the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia Relevant Act: Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Act 2020 (Cth) Length of Grace Period: 6 months from 25 March 2020 (unless extended by legislative instrument) The minimum debt which can form the basis…

We have launched our interactive cross-border guide to the financial support on offer to businesses during the COVID-19 crisis and considerations for banks, corporates and directors trading through the turmoil. We also look at some of the issues being considered in the lending market as well as changes in insolvency law, reviewable transactions and tips for good governance of distressed companies. Hopefully this guide will be of assistance to global operators looking to compare and…

Introduction In Carter v Bailey and Hutchinson (as foreign representatives of Sturgeon Central Asia Balanced Fund Ltd) [2020] EWHC 123 (Ch), the English High Court found that a foreign solvent liquidation could not be recognised under the Cross-Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 (CBIR) (which enacted the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency in Great Britain). Accordingly, the court terminated the recognition order granted previously. Key points to note It was held to be contrary to the…

On 10 September 2019 the High Court in London sanctioned two schemes of arrangement as a part of the successful restructuring of the syncreon group. This transaction was unique because it involved a US based group utilising an English scheme of arrangement to surgically restructure its debts, avoiding an all-encompassing insolvency process. Recognition of the English procedure was obtained in the US and Canada. The syncreon group is a global specialized contract logistics company…