Insolvency Flashcards

1
Q

What is insolvency?

A

When a person or business is unable to pay their debts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What if a business does not have distinct legal personality?

A

The individuals (partners / sole traders) are personally liable for the debt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What three options does an individual have when facing insolvency?

A

Negotiate with creditors

Enter into an Individual Voluntary Agreement (IVA)

Declare bankruptcy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the common downside with negotiating with creditors?

A

It is often not binding on the creditor - no consideration - could still ask for payment on the original terms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is an IVA?

A

Negotiated agreement between debtor and all of their creditors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the benefit of an IVA?

A

It is binding on the creditors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the first thing an insolvency practitioner will do before getting an IVA?

A

Make an application for an interim order to give the debtor breathing space to calculate their assets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What percentage of creditors have to agree to an IVA?

A

Those representing 75% of the value

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What if a debtor tries to mislead regarding the IVA?

A

The creditors can apply to make them bankrupt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the three ways a bankruptcy order can be made?

A

Debtor can apply online

Unsecured creditors owed at least £5k can petition for the debtors bankruptcy

An insolvency practitioner can petition for their bankruptcy for breaching IVA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How can a creditor demonstrate a debtors bankruptcy?

A

By issuing a statutory demand that gives them 21 days to pay or come up with an arrangement to pay

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is exempted from a bankrupts estate?

A

Assets needed for day-to-day living, such as furniture and any tools required for their job

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What happens regarding a bankrupts salary?

A

They are allowed to keep an amount to reasonably cover their living expenses - amounts above this go to the creditors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the order over a bankrupts salary called?

A

An income payment order

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How long does an income payment order last?

A

Up to three years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the situation regarding a bankrupts home?

A

Interest in it will pass to the trustee

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the court consider when considering an order or possession and sale?

A

Other people with an interest in the property

Whether there are any minors etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What happens after a year regarding a bankrupts home?

A

The interests of the creditors take priority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What restrictions are placed on a bankrupt?

A

Cannot:

apply for credit of more than a prescribed amount;

Act as a company director;
Be a partner; or

Trade under another name without disclosure of the bankruptcy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the order of priority for creditors?

A

1) costs of the bankruptcy;

2) preferential debts (that is, holiday pay due to employees and wages of employees due in the last four months and HMRC etc);

3) ordinary unsecured creditors; and

4) postponed creditors (spouse or civil partner)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What happens if there is not enough to satisfy all the creditors at one level?

A

The debts will abate equally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

A bankruptcy is usually discharged after how many years?

A

1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Why may a bankruptcy not be discharged after a year?

A

If they don’t comply with the restrictions and/or

They caused the bankruptcy by their own dishonesty, negligence, or recklessness (culpable bankrupts)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How long can a culpable bankruptcy last?

A

Up to 15 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What happens if an individual partner in a partnership at will is declared bankrupt?

A

Partnership is dissolved

Trustee will receive any money due to the partner to satisfy their creditors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What happens if an individual partner in a general partnership that is not a partnership at will is declared bankrupt?

A

Partnership will continue and, usually the remaining partners will purchase the insolvent partner’s interest from the trustee in accordance with the retirement provisions in the partnership agreement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What happens if an individual partner of an LLP is declared bankrupt?

A

They cannot participate in a partnership without the agreement of court

Usually the trustee will require the partnership to buy the share as per the retirement provisions in the partnership agreement

28
Q

What happens if all the partners are made bankrupt?

A

Trustee will wind the partnership up, ensuring:

Contracts are ended, legal dispute are settled, sell assets, collect money owed to the partnership, settle any debts - then distribute the remainder to creditors

29
Q

What happens if an LLP is made bankrupt?

A

Administered by the official receiver as if it were a limited company

30
Q

What are the 3 purposes of corporate insolvency?

A

Protect creditors (and balance their interests)

Promote corporate rescues

If necessary, control or punish the directors

31
Q

What are the three insolvency options for a company?

A

Receivership

Administration and CVAs

Liquidation

32
Q

What is receivership?

A

Enables creditors to recover what is solely owed to them

33
Q

What does administration / Company Voluntary Arrangement seek to achieve?

A

The rescue of the company

34
Q

What is liquidation?

A

Company’s assets are sold off to satisfy creditors and the company then ceases to exist

35
Q

What is fixed asset receivership?

A

A creditor recovering an asset over which they have a charge

36
Q

What is considered in administration?

A

The interests of the creditors as a whole

37
Q

What are the two methods by which a company can go into administration?

A

Formal court hearing

By the company, its directors, or the holder of a qualifying floating charge filing certain documents with the court

38
Q

When can a court make an order regarding administration?

A

When it is satisfied that the company cannot pay its debts, and administration is likely to achieve a better outcome for creditors than liquidation

39
Q

What will a qualifying floating charge contain?

A

A provision empowering the lender to appoint an administrator if the debtor is in breach

40
Q

What does an administrator do?

A

Takes control of the company’s property and sells it, brings or defends legal proceedings on behalf of the company, carries out the company’s business, removes or replaces directors

41
Q

Who must approve an administrators proposals?

A

A majority in value of the creditors

42
Q

What is one key benefit of administration?

A

Moratorium is imposed - protects company from third parties enforcing their rights and prevents commencement of other insolvency proceedings

43
Q

What is a company voluntary arrangement?

A

Like a IVA but for companies. Usually used for short term cash flow issues

44
Q

Who starts a CVA?

A

The directors

45
Q

What percentage of creditors must agree to to the CVA?

A

75% of value

46
Q

What happens if a CVA fails?

A

Liquidation or administration

47
Q

What is members’ voluntary liquidation?

A

Where a company is solvent and the members decide to wind it up

48
Q

What is creditors’ voluntary liquidation?

A

Started by directors and then taken over by creditors. Usually started when the company will be insolvent if it continues trading

49
Q

What is compulsory liquidation?

A

Creditor who is owed money by a company that cannot pay its debts can apply to the court to have it wound up

50
Q

What does a liquidator do?

A

Collects assets and distributed the funds achieved to creditors in statutory order

51
Q

What is the order of priority for distribution to creditors?

A

1) Secured creditors
2) expenses of wining up (liquidator/professional adviser fees);
3) preferential debts;
4) debts secured by floating charges in order of priority (subject to ring fencing);
5) unsecured debts;
6) shareholders

52
Q

What is claw back?

A

Where a liquidator, administrator, or trustee in bankruptcy, investigates actions prior to the insolvency to try and maximise the funds available to creditors

53
Q

What is a preference?

A

Where a debtor puts a creditor in a better position than they would have been in insolvency

54
Q

What are the requirements for a preference?

A

Must be intentional

Must have taken place in the six months preceding bankruptcy (or within two years for a connect person)

55
Q

What happens if a transaction is ruled to be a preference by the court?

A

It is voidable

56
Q

What is the consequence of a transaction at an undervalue?

A

It is voidable

57
Q

When is a transaction said to be at an undervalue for a company?

A

If the transaction is to a connected person, and the transaction took place when the company was insolvent or the transaction causes the insolvency, then it is presumed to have been made at an undervalue

58
Q

When is a transaction said to be at an undervalue for an individual?

A

There is no requirement to prove insolvency.

Only needs to be made two years before a petition if made to a close friend or relative

59
Q

What is the defence for a company to an alleged transaction at an undervalue?

A

When it was made in good faith and there are reasonable grounds for believing that it would benefit the company

60
Q

What is never considered to be a transaction at an undervalue?

A

Grant of security - however, preference may be set aside

61
Q

What is fraudulent trading?

A

When a director carries on the business of the company with the intention of defrauding creditors

62
Q

Who can bring an action for fraudulent trading?

A

Liquidator or administrator

63
Q

What is wrongful trading?

A

Failure by directors to minimise losses for creditors when they knew or ought to have known that the company was insolvent

64
Q

Floating charges and preferences?

A

Can be voidable

65
Q

When can a floating charge be set aside?

A

When it is made 12 months before insolvency

Or

Charge granted at time the company was or ought to have known it was insolvent

66
Q

What is ring fencing?

A

liquidator is required to set aside part of the assets subject to a floating lien for the benefit of unsecured creditors

The amount is 50% of the first £100,000 in value of the property subject to floating charges and 20% on amounts above, up to a maximum ring-fenced fund of £600,000