The Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

[F1GENERALN.I.

Joint and concurrent administratorsN.I.

101.—(1) In this Schedule—N.I.

(a)a reference to the appointment of an administrator of a company includes a reference to the appointment of a number of persons to act jointly or concurrently as the administrator of a company, and

(b)a reference to the appointment of a person as administrator of a company includes a reference to the appointment of a person as one of a number of persons to act jointly or concurrently as the administrator of a company.

(2) The appointment of a number of persons to act as administrator of a company must specify—

(a)which functions (if any) are to be exercised by the persons appointed acting jointly, and

(b)which functions (if any) are to be exercised by any or all of the persons appointed.

102.—(1) This paragraph applies where two or more persons are appointed to act jointly as the administrator of a company.N.I.

(2) A reference to the administrator of the company is a reference to those persons acting jointly.

(3) But a reference to the administrator of a company in paragraphs 88 to 100 of this Schedule is a reference to any or all of the persons appointed to act jointly.

(4) Where an offence of omission is committed by the administrator, each of the persons appointed to act jointly—

(a)commits the offence, and

(b)may be proceeded against and punished individually.

(5) The reference in paragraph 46(1)(a) to the name of the administrator is a reference to the name of each of the persons appointed to act jointly.

(6) Where persons are appointed to act jointly in respect of only some of the functions of the administrator of a company, this paragraph applies only in relation to those functions.

103.—(1) This paragraph applies where two or more persons are appointed to act concurrently as the administrator of a company.N.I.

(2) A reference to the administrator of a company in this Schedule is a reference to any of the persons appointed (or any combination of them).

104.—(1) Where a company is in administration, a person may be appointed to act as administrator jointly or concurrently with the person or persons acting as the administrator of the company.N.I.

(2) Where a company entered administration by administration order, an appointment under sub-paragraph (1) must be made by the High Court on the application of—

(a)a person or group listed in paragraph 13(1)(a) to (f), or

(b)the person or persons acting as the administrator of the company.

(3) Where a company entered administration by virtue of an appointment under paragraph 15, an appointment under sub-paragraph (1) must be made by—

(a)the holder of the floating charge by virtue of which the appointment was made, or

(b)the High Court on the application of the person or persons acting as the administrator of the company.

(4) Where a company entered administration by virtue of an appointment under paragraph 23(1), an appointment under sub-paragraph (1) must be made either by the High Court on the application of the person or persons acting as the administrator of the company or—

(a)by the company, and

(b)with the consent of each person who is the holder of a qualifying floating charge in respect of the company's property or, where consent is withheld, with the permission of the Court.

(5) Where a company entered administration by virtue of an appointment under paragraph 23(2), an appointment under sub-paragraph (1) must be made either by the Court on the application of the person or persons acting as the administrator of the company or—

(a)by the directors of the company, and

(b)with the consent of each person who is the holder of a qualifying floating charge in respect of the company's property or, where consent is withheld, with the permission of the Court.

(6) An appointment under sub-paragraph (1) may be made only with the consent of the person or persons acting as the administrator of the company.

Presumption of validityN.I.

105.  An act of the administrator of a company is valid in spite of a defect in his appointment or qualification.N.I.

Majority decision of directorsN.I.

106.  A reference in this Schedule to something done by the directors of a company includes a reference to the same thing done by a majority of the directors of a company.N.I.

PenaltiesN.I.

107.—(1) A person who is guilty of an offence under this Schedule is liable to a fine (in accordance with Article 373 and Schedule 7).N.I.

(2) A person who is guilty of an offence under any of the following paragraphs of this Schedule is liable to a daily default fine (in accordance with Article 373 and Schedule 7)—

(a)paragraph 21,

(b)paragraph 33,

(c)paragraph 47,

(d)paragraph 49,

(e)paragraph 50,

(f)paragraph 52,

(g)paragraph 54,

(h)paragraph 55,

(i)paragraph 57,

(j)paragraph 72,

(k)paragraph 73,

(l)paragraph 78,

(m)paragraph 79,

(n)paragraph 81,

(o)paragraph 85,

(p)paragraph 87, and

(q)paragraph 90.

Extension of time limitN.I.

108.—(1) Where a provision of this Schedule provides that a period may be varied in accordance with this paragraph, the period may be varied in respect of a company—N.I.

(a)by the High Court, and

(b)on the application of the administrator.

(2) A time period may be extended in respect of a company under this paragraph—

(a)more than once, and

(b)after expiry.

109.—(1) A period specified in paragraph 50(5), 51(1)(b) or 52(2) may be varied in respect of a company by the administrator with consent.N.I.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1) “consent” means consent of—

(a)each secured creditor of the company, and

(b)if the company has unsecured debts, creditors whose debts amount to more than 50 per cent. of the company's unsecured debts, disregarding debts of any creditor who does not respond to an invitation to give or withhold consent.

(3) But where the administrator has made a statement under paragraph 53(1)(b) “consent” means—

(a)consent of each secured creditor of the company, or

(b)if the administrator thinks that a distribution may be made to preferential creditors, consent of—

(i)each secured creditor of the company, and

(ii)preferential creditors whose debts amount to more than 50 per cent. of the total preferential debts of the company, disregarding debts of any creditor who does not respond to an invitation to give or withhold consent.

(4) Consent for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) may be—

(a)written, or

(b)signified at a creditors' meeting.

(5) The power to extend under sub-paragraph (1)—

(a)may be exercised in respect of a period only once,

(b)may not be used to extend a period by more than 28 days,

(c)may not be used to extend a period which has been extended by the High Court, and

(d)may not be used to extend a period after expiry.

110.  Where a period is extended under paragraph 108 or 109, a reference to the period shall be taken as a reference to the period as extended.N.I.

Amendment of provision about timeN.I.

111.—(1) The Department may by order amend a provision of this Schedule which—N.I.

(a)requires anything to be done within a specified period of time,

(b)prevents anything from being done after a specified time, or

(c)requires a specified minimum period of notice to be given.

(2) An order under this paragraph shall be subject to negative resolution.]