The business world in England and Wales now faces huge challenges. Corporate insolvencies have hit their highest points since 2009. What’s causing more companies to struggle, and why are insolvency processes so important in mergers and acquisitions (M&A)?
Since the pandemic began, companies have been dealing with more debts. They also face inflation and high interest rates. Insolvency processes help these companies recover and reorganise their finances. Directors have a tough job, negotiating with creditors and managing assets to keep the business afloat.
More companies are now choosing to restructure (by 14% in October 2023) rather than shutting down completely. This shows that businesses are trying to survive tough economic times. But fast M&A deals, sometimes done in just days, are risky without thorough checks. It’s crucial to make smart decisions, balancing between reorganisation and closure, to protect everyone involved.
Directors’ roles are more crucial than ever. They must consider if their company can bounce back from insolvency. This choice affects many things, from paying bills to the overall health of the business. New insurance for such situations helps both buyers and sellers try to lessen risks in deals.
The right use of insolvency tools can turn a struggling merger into a new strategic chance. So, knowing how to use these processes well is vital in turning around the fate of a business.
The Importance of Insolvency Procedures in M&A Transactions
Insolvency processes play a key role in M&A deals, especially for struggling firms. In England and Wales, bankruptcies are at their peak since 2009. There’s also been a big jump in Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) from September 2022 to October 2023.
This means the situation for merging troubled companies has changed a lot. Now, quick deals are a must because of urgent financial needs. Sellers might face tough times, requiring deals to be done fast to avoid more problems.
In these fast-moving deal scenarios, buyers often skip lengthy looks at company details. They focus on big issues to quickly buy the company. But this approach comes with risks as critical issues might be missed. To solve this, using Warranty and Indemnity (W&I) insurance has become common. It helps reduce risks for the buyer.
Directors handling troubled companies must put creditor interests first. It’s crucial that any merger or acquisition helps the company recover and grow. If they miss this, it might make the company’s problems worse. This could lead to bad deals with creditors or even make directors personally responsible for bad business moves.
In today’s world, with debts after the pandemic and other risks, insolvency steps in M&A are incredibly important. They are a vital map for companies dealing with money problems and wanting to get a fresh start. Insolvency steps guide these companies through the tough process of being bought or merged, ensuring a structured and potentially successful response to financial issues.
Main Insolvency Procedures Under UK Law
Under UK law, there are several insolvency procedures to handle companies facing financial trouble. The Insolvency Act 1986 (as amended) and the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 (as amended) lay the foundation for these steps. Section 123 of the Insolvency Act talks about two key tests, cash flow insolvency and balance sheet insolvency. Recent trends show these tests are not always clear, due to the complicated business world.
UK law provides different paths for companies in trouble. These include company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), administration, and liquidation. Administration helps companies restructure by giving them time. CVAs let companies reduce their debts without shutting down. For a CVA to work, most shareholders and three-quarters of creditors must agree.
The Companies Act 2006 allows schemes of arrangement and restructuring plans, too. These are more intricate than CVAs and need court approval. The restructuring plan, a new step as of June 2020, can deal with debts differently, even if some creditors don’t agree.
When all else fails, a company might face wind-up or liquidation. This can happen even if the company’s debts are not that high. The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (CIGA) puts a temporary hold (a moratorium) in some cases. This is to help companies hit by COVID-19 or other issues get back on track without constant creditor pressure.
Types of Insolvency: Balance Sheet vs. Cash Flow Insolvency
Knowing the differences between balance sheet and cash flow insolvency is key. Balance sheet insolvency happens when what a company owes is more than what it owns. This can make the company financially stuck. On the other hand, cash flow insolvency is when a company can’t pay its debts on time. This might be true even if it looks good on paper with more assets than debts.
The Insolvency Act 1986 lays out how to deal with these different problems. For balance sheet insolvency, the focus is on managing assets better. This helps to raise the value of assets and lower what’s owed. But, for cash flow insolvency, the goal is to make operations run smoother. This can boost the cash coming in and help in talks with those who are owed money.
In England and Wales, the number of companies facing insolvency is at a high not seen since 2009. This shows the importance of having strong ways to deal with financial trouble. When a business is in a hurry to sell but has financial problems, it can be tough. The usual promises or protections may not be offered by the seller.
Directors need to know how to handle these situations based on the kind of insolvency. They must put the creditors first. This involves finding new ways to deal with money problems, whether by changing how things are run or managing assets better.
Distressed M&A Transactions: Opportunities and Risks
Buying assets or whole companies at good prices is a big chance in distressed M&A deals. However, they carry a lot of risks that buyers need to tackle with smart plans and checks.
Economists think that with the ongoing pandemic, more distressed mergers and acquisitions are coming. This is due to an expected rise in companies facing financial trouble. To make the best decisions, buyers have to look closely at what they’re buying in a short time.
Getting help from legal experts like those at Burges Salmon is key. They know about tricky areas like pensions, taxes, and laws. Their advice is vital in making sure the whole buying process goes smoothly. They focus on the deal setup, checking every detail, promises, and meeting laws.
When buying in a trouble situation, it’s often better to buy the assets, not the company shares. This limits the buyer’s risk from not checking everything fully. Also, since the sellers usually don’t give many guarantees, having special insurance is very important.
Along with this insurance, dealing with laws about competition and other rules is crucial. Places like the Competition and Markets Authority watch closely to keep deals fair for everyone.
When the government steps in, especially for important areas like health and safety, doing business across borders gets more difficult. In these cases, everyone involved has to be very careful. They must look after the company’s interest while following strict rules or picking the right kind of deal to save the business.
For those selling in these deals, being ready for quick checks and focusing on the most important things is vital. They also need to ensure they can get the money and agree on the payment terms quickly. This helps both the buyers and sellers in handling the hard parts of buying in tough times.
UK Insolvency and M&A: Legal Frameworks
The UK’s laws on insolvency and deals made during tough times are complex. They are influenced by many laws such as the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016. These rules look after how companies in financial trouble are treated. Recent changes in these rules have made things less clear cut, especially when deciding if a company is ‘insolvent’.
Other important laws include the Enterprise Act 2002 and the Companies Act 2006. They talk about what should happen when companies face insolvency, including agreements to help them keep going (CVAs) and selling off their assets (liquidation). There are also rules for when companies try to work out a deal with their creditors. This happens through plans like restructuring or arranging schemes. These help companies avoid going under and settle what they owe in a planned way.
A lot of people keep an eye on companies following these laws. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and others make sure the rules are followed. New laws, like the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 and the National Security and Investment Act 2021, set even stricter rules. Breaking these rules when buying or merging with another company can lead to big fines.
Knowing and following the law for buying or merging with a struggling company is very important. It affects how buyers check the company they want to buy (due diligence) and how they protect themselves from the risks. It also changes how the company’s debts are settled. It is very important for everyone involved to understand and follow these laws. This helps companies in financial trouble stand the best chance of getting back on their feet in a changing business world.
The Role of Directors in Insolvency Procedures
Directors in the UK must deal with complex laws and changing needs when their companies might go under. They have a duty not just to their shareholders but also to the creditors, especially when the company is in a tough financial spot. The Supreme Court has stated that directors should really think about what’s best for the creditors if they see the company heading towards possible insolvency. A big part of their job is talking to creditors and making sure they don’t act in a way that could be seen as trying to keep a sinking ship afloat, known as wrongful trading.
In 2002, Marylebone got into a tax scheme that almost led to insolvency, and in 2011, the court found it owed a lot in taxes. This shows the dangers directors can face. They must avoid harming the creditors to the company, otherwise, they could face financial loss, damage to their reputation, and could even be banned from being a director.
Take the Hunt v Singh case, where they argued if just being close to insolvency means directors have to care more about the creditors’ rights. Another case in 2018 highlighted how tricky it is to be both legal and ethical. Directors must keep very clear records of what they do, which helps keep the company and themselves legally safe.
Good board practices are key. Directors should always seek legal advice, report finances well, and be ready to handle insolvency issues. All directors, even those without executive roles, have a responsibility to the creditors. Keeping open and honest communication with those the company owes money to is vital.
In short, directors in these tough times have to walk a fine line. They need to be responsible and make smart choices to lessen the risks and help the company bounce back or close down in the right way. By making well-informed and moral decisions, directors can significantly better the outcomes of hard financial times and help with the turnaround of the business.
Rescue Procedures: Administration vs. CVAs
In the insolvency world, company administration and company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) play big roles. They help struggling companies recover. In the UK, more companies are facing financial troubles. So, these methods are more important than ever.
Administration gives a struggling company time to fix its problems or sell parts of its business. It stops creditors from taking action right away. This allows the company to sort out its issues.
On the other hand, CVAs help plan how a company will pay its debts. They need most of the company’s creditors to agree. Once approved, all creditors must follow the plan. CVAs are becoming more common because they work well.
Administering and using CVAs is good for different situations. If a company needs big changes quickly, administration is better. But if the company can solve its issues with a payment plan, a CVA might be the best choice.
There are also ways to close a company, known as winding-up. But it’s better to try rescue methods first. Getting the right advice is key. It helps companies decide the best approach. This can bring both short-term relief and long-term success.
Pros and Cons of Using Insolvency Procedures in M&A
There are big advantages to using insolvency in M&A, like getting assets cheaper. With the quick AMA process, businesses can keep their value but also grab new opportunities. This speedy approach flags how vital fast and smart financial moves are.
On the other hand, insolvency in M&A can have its drawbacks. Buyers might take on more risk because of the swift sale and lack of detailed checks. Strategies to lower these risks are a must without proper investigations and guarantees from the seller.
Good planning in looking into things and talking openly is key, mainly for firms in pre-pack administration. Having M&A and financial experts on board is crucial for a smooth deal structure. Clear and open talks with investors and staff help keep the deal positive and sharp.
In a fast sale, being ready to change and having a solid plan B is important. Using NDAs to keep secrets safe is usual in these quick deals. Sometimes, showing you have the cash ready can be better than offering more money but with doubt.
After buying, dealing with possible problems from old property deals to damaged trust with suppliers is key. Making sure there’s enough cash after the deal and a smooth handover are essential for asset care and buying success.
Market Climate for Distressed M&A in the UK
The UK’s market for distressed M&A is on the rise, despite the ongoing pandemic effects. The end of government support schemes is leading to more deals. This trend is especially visible in sectors like retail, manufacturing, and tech. They are facing tough financial times.
High levels of M&A activity show a strong investor interest. But, buying distressed companies brings its own problems. Buyers face quick deals and little time to check the company’s health. Sellers might not give guarantees, making these deals more risky. Understanding UK insolvency law is key to not getting caught up in future problems.
Also, 2021 saw the start of the National Security and Investment Act. It gives the government new powers to check on investments. The UK can now restrict or stop deals if it wants. This adds extra legal hoops to jump through during distressed M&A deals. Being ready and knowing the rules is crucial for everyone involved.
Despite the challenges, the market offers chances for growth and recovery. But, smart financial strategies and careful attention to duty are a must. The number of failing companies in England and Wales is currently high. This makes it crucial for directors to be very cautious. Good record-keeping and following the rules can help companies avoid more trouble during these deals.
