Requirement for Annual Meetings in existing CVLs

There have been differing interpretations within the profession of the savings provisions contained in The Public Services Reform (Insolvency)(Scotland) Order 2016 and how they apply in conjunction with the new Scottish Rules.

The original order may be found here, in which s105 is repealed as of 6th April 2019, subject to Article 15(3) which appeared to save s105 for any case where the resolution to wind up pre-dates commencement under article 1(4), (notably, without reference to the obligation having arisen yet).

However, we have since become aware that the 2016 Order has been amended by The Public Services Reform (Insolvency)(Scotland) Order 2017 to the effect that s105 is no longer saved, other than where the obligation to hold the annual meeting has arisen prior to commencement: click here. Unfortunately, the government does not publish amended secondary legislation, so reference needs to be made to both instruments.

So where the anniversary falls within the three months prior to April 2019, the ability and requirement to hold the annual meeting is preserved by the transitional provisions in the Rules. In these straddle situations, the old rules on type of report are also saved.

All other existing cases will now follow the amended s104A (s105 having been repealed).

The recently published advice from the AiB is here.

How we can assist you

We’ve been examining in detail the new Scottish Rules and their practical implications. We can offer bespoke in-house training, Rules-compliant document packs and checklists, and compliance support.

For further information about how we can assist you in adjusting to the changes brought about by the new Rules, contact enquiries@insolvencysupportservices.com

Insolvency (Scotland) Rules: Statutory Declarations

An aim of the new Rules is to modernise the language of the statute. One of the terms that we wave goodbye to is affidavit, and in its place comes statutory declaration. The language might not be ancient Latin, but it’s still an old and well-established piece of statute that sits behind it, stemming as it does from the Statutory Declarations Act 1835.

A Statutory Declaration is a statement made in lieu of an oath and the Act contains a prescribed form of Statutory Declaration. A Statutory Declaration is included within the current standard form Notices of Appointment of Administrators and therefore a similar approach to the various documents which require a Statutory Declaration in terms of the New Rules seems reasonable. The following wording (amended to reflect the terminology used in the relevant Rule) can be inserted into the relevant document.

I [ ] do solemnly and sincerely declare that [the information provided in [this notice/this statement of affairs/statement of concurrence] is,] [these accounts are,] to the best of my knowledge and belief, [true][accurate and complete],

AND I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835.

Declared at _________________________________

Signed _____________________________________

This ______________ day of ___________________ 20

before me __________________________________

A Notary Public or Justice of the Peace

It appears that a solicitor in Scotland is not authorised to take oaths as per s18 of the 1835 Act, and therefore any statutory declaration should be signed in front of a notary public or justice of the peace. If any doubt as to your requirements, take independent legal advice.

How we can assist you

We’ve been examining in detail the new legal requirements and their practical implications. We can offer bespoke in-house training, Rules-compliant document packs and checklists, and compliance support.

For further information about how we can assist you in adjusting to the changes brought about by the new Rules, contact enquiries@insolvencysupportservices.com

Insolvency (Scotland) Rules: Nomination Process

The new Rules will come into force on Saturday 6 April 2019. We will be keeping you posted where we can on interpretations and issues in the period of their introduction.

First up, we’ve walked through the nomination process to have a look at the timescales involved where an interim liquidator, appointed on 8 April 2019, seeks and obtains one nomination as liquidator, and goes back to the creditors for a decision by way of deemed consent. We have assumed that the interim liquidator in this example issues notices at the last possible occasion, and uses 2nd class post wherever possible. The table below outlines what we think that process looks like.

Event Date or deadline Statutory Reference Narrative
Winding Up Order (WUO)Monday 08/04/2019S138Must as soon as practicable seek nomination within 28 days beg within WUO.  Therefore 28 days in this example expires on Sunday 5 May. It’s possible that that RPBs may take view on an  IL always sending out at last possible time given s138 requires nominations as soon as practicable.  Can ignore Easter bank holidays, since requirement is 28 days (not business days) from WUO.
Last date for posting report and nomination request: using 2nd class post29/4/2019R1.38Deemed to have been delivered 4 business days after the date of sending.

 

Last date report and notice can be received by creditorsFriday 3/5/2019Report and nomination notice received by creditors on Friday (since Sunday  not a business day)
Nominations received from CreditorsMon 13/5/2019R5.22(5)Has to be received within 5 business days of the date of the notice issued requesting nominations (if they are sending it 2nd class, they would have to post it Tues 7th May latest (since Mon 6th May is a Bank Holiday) to ensure received by IL in time)
Decision date expiryMonday 3/6/2019R5.22(9)The decision date has to be no later than 21 days after the date of receiving nominations – nomination date 13/5/2019 + 21 days = Monday 3 June 2019 (can ignore bank holiday on 27 May since Rules refer to 21 days and not business days).
Therefore, latest date for issue of circular, giving a minimum of 14 days’ notice, to include 2 business days for 1st  class.  (note posting 2nd class here doesn’t give enough clear notice)Wed

15/5/2019 deemed to be delivered Fri  17/5/2019 at latest)

R5.22(10)Giving at least 14 days’ notice + 4 business days for 2nd class post not to include the date of delivery and the date of the decision. (Rule 1.3)  In effect, on the next business day following the expiry of the nomination period, using 2nd class post doesn’t allow 14 clear days’ notice of the decision to be issued – since Rule 1.3 defines clear days not to include the date of sending or the date of the event.  On this occasion, looks like you are going to have to use first class post.
Last date for creditors to exercise 10:10:10 objection and request a physical meetingFri 24/5/2019R8.8Creditors may within 5 business days from the date of delivery of the notice require a physical meeting to be held. The convenor then has 3 business days from the threshold for requests being received to send notice in accordance with the Rules, giving creditors 14 days’ notice of the meeting. That would have to take into account the bank holiday on Monday 27 May.
Latest date for decision (the backstop)Thu 6/6/2019R5.22 (7)where a decision is sought under r5.22(6) the decision date must be not more than 60 days from the date of the winding up order.

Most of you will have diary systems and prompts to assist you with the planning of your processes. However, this exercise demonstrates that you can’t leave everything to the last minute and issue by 2nd class post. You simply won’t meet your deadlines.

This is a good example of why putting everything on a website going forward will be advantageous, and understanding the implications of delivery (rather than sending).

How we can assist you

We’ve been examining in detail the new legal requirements and their practical implications. We can offer bespoke in-house training, Rules-compliant document packs and checklists, and compliance support.

For further information about how we can assist you in adjusting to the changes brought about by the new Rules, contact enquiries@insolvencysupportservices.com