C18C10C11C12C29C13C14C15C28C17C16C16Part I Company Voluntary Arrangements
Pt. 1 (ss. 1-7), Pt. 2 (ss. 8-27) modified by Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (c. 46, SIF 27), ss. 21(2), 25
Pts. 1-7 (ss. 1-251) applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1989/1276, arts. 2, 3
Pt. 1 (ss. 1-7) applied with modifications by S.I. 1986/2142, arts. 1(2), 11, 13(3), 15
Pt. 1 (ss. 1-7) applied (with modifications) (1.12.1997) by 1986 c. 53, Sch. 15A (as inserted by 1997 c. 32, s. 39(2), Sch. 6 para. 1(2)(a); S.I. 1997/2668, art. 2, Sch. Pt. 1(i)) (as amended (13.3.2018) by The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (Consequential Amendments, Savings and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/208), regs. 1(3), 2(3))
Pt. 1: power to apply or incorporate conferred (6.4.2001) by 2000 c. 12, s. 14; S.I. 2000/3316, art. 2
Pt. 1: power to apply (with modifications) conferred (15.9.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 255(2)(a), 279 (with s. 249(6)); S.I. 2003/2093, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-8 (as amended by S.I. 2003/2332, art. 2))
Pt. 1: power to apply (with modifications) conferred (20.11.2003 for specified purposes and 1.4.2004 otherwise) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), ss. 24(2), 26, 199; S.I. 2004/759, art. 2
Pt. 1: power to apply (with modifications) conferred (E.W.) (1.3.2007) by National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), ss. 53(2), 55, 277
Pts. 1-4, 6, 7 applied to limited liability partnerships (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (6.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1090, reg. 5, Schs. 3, 4 (as amended (4.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/355, art. 10; and (1.10.2005) by S.I. 2005/1989, reg. 3, Sch. 2 (with reg. 4); and (8.12.2017) by The Insolvency (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1119), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pts. 2, 3; and (temp.) (retrospective to 27.4.2020) by virtue of Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (c. 12), Sch. 10 paras. 8(1)(2), 14, Sch. 12 para. 6 (with ss. 2(2), 5(2); and (26.6.2020) by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/643), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 (with reg. 2); and (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 12 para. 6 (with ss. 2(2), 5(2), 14(4)))
First Group of Parts (Pts. 1-7) applied (with modifications) (15.12.2006) by The Banks (Former Authorised Institutions) (Insolvency) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3107), art. 3, Sch. (as amended (1.4.2013) by S.I. 2013/472, art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 117; and (13.3.2018) by S.I. 2018/208, regs. 1(3), 11)
Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (17.2.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 21.2.2009) by Banking Act 2009 (c. 1), s. 113(6)-(9) (with s. 247); S.I. 2009/296, arts. 2, 3, Sch.
Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (21.2.2009) by Banking Act 2009 (c. 1), ss. 103, 134, 263(1) (with s. 247); S.I. 2009/296, art. 3, Sch. para. 2
Pts. 1-4 applied (with modifications) in part (2.1.2013) by The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3013), reg. 1, Sch. para. 1(2)(a)(3)-(7) (as amended (26.6.2020) by Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (c. 12), s. 49(1), Sch. 3 para. 49(3) (with ss. 2(2), 5(2)))
Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2014) by The Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions (Arrangements, Reconstructions and Administration) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/229), art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (as renamed (1.8.2014) by S.I. 2014/1815, Sch. para 33; and as amended (1.8.2014) by S.I. 2014/1822, art. 5; and (13.3.2018) by The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (Consequential Amendments, Savings and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/208), regs. 1(3), 15(3)(a))
Pt. 1 power to apply (with or without modifications) (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 118(1)(2), 154 (with Sch. 5)
The Proposal
C261 Those who may propose an arrangement.
1
The directors of a company F1(other than one which is in administration or being wound up) may make a proposal under this Part to the company and to its creditors for a composition in satisfaction of its debts or a scheme of arrangement of its affairs (from here on referred to, in either case, as a “voluntary arrangement”).
2
A proposal under this Part is one which provides for some person (“the nominee”) to act in relation to the voluntary arrangement either as trustee or otherwise for the purpose of supervising its implementation; and the nominee must be a person who is qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner F45F2... in relation to the voluntary arrangement.
3
Such a proposal may also be made—
F3a
where the company is in administration, by the administrator,
b
where the company is being wound up, by the liquidator.
F44
In this Part “company” means—
F5a
a company registered under the Companies Act 2006 in England and Wales or Scotland;
b
a company incorporated in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom; or
c
a company not incorporated in an EEA State but having its centre of main interests in a member State other than Denmark.
5
In subsection (4), in relation to a company, “centre of main interests” has the same meaning as in the F49Article 3 of the EU Regulation.
6
If a company incorporated outside the United Kingdom has a principal place of business in Northern Ireland, no proposal under this Part shall be made in relation to it unless it also has a principal place of business in England and Wales or Scotland (or both in England and Wales or Scotland).
F951A Moratorium.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C192 Procedure where nominee is not the liquidator or administrator.
1
This section applies where the nominee under section 1 is not the liquidator or administrator of the company F96....
2
The nominee shall, within 28 days (or such longer period as the court may allow) after he is given notice of the proposal for a voluntary arrangement, submit a report to the court stating—
a
F6whether, in his opinion, the proposed voluntary arrangement has a reasonable prospect of being approved and implemented,
F53b
whether, in his opinion, the proposal should be considered by a meeting of the company and by the company's creditors, and
c
if in his opinion it should, the date on which, and time and place at which, he proposes a meeting of the company should be held.
3
For the purposes of enabling the nominee to prepare his report, the person intending to make the proposal shall submit to the nominee—
a
a document setting out the terms of the proposed voluntary arrangement, and
b
a statement of the company’s affairs containing—
i
such particulars of its creditors and of its debts and other liabilities and of its assets as may be prescribed, and
ii
such other information as may be prescribed.
F74
The court may—
a
on an application made by the person intending to make the proposal, in a case where the nominee has failed to submit the report required by this section or has died, or
b
on an application made by that person or the nominee, in a case where it is impracticable or inappropriate for the nominee to continue to act as such,
direct that the nominee be replaced as such by another person qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner F46... in relation to the voluntary arrangement.
C19C253F58Consideration of proposal.
1
Where the nominee under section 1 is not the liquidator or administrator, and it has been report to the court F54under section 2(2) that the proposal should be considered by a meeting of the company and by the company's creditors, the person making the report shall (unless the court otherwise F55directs)—
a
summon a meeting of the company to consider the proposal for the time, date and place proposed in the report, and
b
seek a decision from the company's creditors as to whether they approve the proposal.
2
Where the nominee is the liquidator or administrator, he F56shall—
a
summon a meeting of the company to consider the proposal for such time, date and place as he thinks fit, and
b
seek a decision from the company's creditors as to whether they approve the proposal.
F573
A decision of the company's creditors as to whether they approve the proposal is to be made by a qualifying decision procedure.
4
Notice of the qualifying decision procedure must be given to every creditor of the company of whose claim and address the person seeking the decision is aware.
Consideration and implementation of proposal
C1C194 Decisions of F67the company and its creditors.
F591
This section applies where, under section 3—
a
a meeting of the company is summoned to consider the proposed voluntary arrangement, and
b
the company's creditors are asked to decide whether to approve the proposed voluntary arrangement.
1A
The company and its creditors may approve the proposed voluntary arrangement with or without modifications.
2
The modifications may include one conferring the functions proposed to be conferred on the nominee on another person qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner F47... F8in relation to the voluntary arrangement.
But they shall not include any modification by virtue of which the proposal ceases to be a proposal such as is mentioned in section 1.
3
F60Neither the company nor its creditors may approve any proposal or modification which affects the right of a secured creditor of the company to enforce his security, except with the concurrence of the creditor concerned.
4
Subject as follows, F61neither the company nor its creditors may approve any proposal or modification under which—
a
any preferential debt of the company is to be paid otherwise than in priority to such of its debts as are not preferential debts, F39...
F40aa
any ordinary preferential debt of the company is to be paid otherwise than in priority to any secondary preferential debts that it may have,
b
c
a preferential creditor of the company is to be paid an amount in respect of a secondary preferential debt that bears to that debt a smaller proportion than is borne to another secondary preferential debt by the amount that is to be paid in respect of that other debt.F51or
d
in the case of a company which is a relevant financial institution (see section 387A), any non-preferential debt is to be paid otherwise than in accordance with the rules in section 176AZA(2) or (3).
F974A
Subject to subsection (4B), where the nominee’s report under section 2(2) is submitted to the court before the end of the period of 12 weeks beginning with the day after the end of any moratorium for the company under Part A1, neither the company nor its creditors may approve any proposal or modification under which the following are to be paid otherwise than in full—
a
moratorium debts (within the meaning given by section 174A);
b
priority pre-moratorium debts (within the meaning given by section 174A).
4B
Subsection (4A) does not prevent the approval of such a proposal or modification with the concurrence of the creditor concerned.
5
Subject as above, F64the meeting of the company and the qualifying decision procedure shall be conducted in accordance with the rules.
6
After the conclusion of F65the company meeting in accordance with the rules, the chairman of the meeting shall report the result of the meeting to the court, and, immediately after reporting to the court, shall give notice of the result of the meeting to such persons as may be prescribed.
F666A
After the company's creditors have decided whether to approve the proposed voluntary arrangement the person who sought the decision must—
a
report the creditors' decision to the court, and
b
immediately after reporting to the court, give notice of the creditors' decision to such persons as may be prescribed.
7
References in this section to preferential debts F44, ordinary preferential debts, secondary preferential debts and preferential creditors are to be read in accordance with section 386 in Part XII of this Act.
C19F94A Approval of arrangement.
1
This section applies to a decision, under section 4, with respect to the approval of a proposed voluntary arrangement.
C22
The decision has effect if, in accordance with the rules—
a
it has been taken by F68the meeting of the company summoned under section 3 and by the company's creditors pursuant to that section, or
3
If the decision taken by the F70company's creditors differs from that taken by the company meeting, a member of the company may apply to the court.
4
An application under subsection (3) shall not be made after the end of the period of 28 days beginning with—
a
the day on which the decision was taken by the F71company's creditors, or
b
where the decision of the company meeting was taken on a later day, that day.
5
F375A
The appropriate regulator” means—
a
where the regulated company is a PRA-regulated company F99as defined by section A49(13), the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, and
b
in any other case, the Financial Conduct Authority.
6
On an application under subsection (3), the court may—
a
order the decision of the company meeting to have effect instead of the decision of the F72company's creditors, or
b
make such other order as it thinks fit.
C3C4C19C21C23C275 Effect of approval.
F101
This section applies where a decision approving a voluntary arrangement has effect under section 4A.
2
The F11... voluntary arrangement—
a
takes effect as if made by the company at the F73time the creditors decided to approve the voluntary arrangement, and
F12b
binds every person who in accordance with the rules—
i
was entitled to vote F74in the qualifying decision procedure by which the creditors' decision to approve the voluntary arrangement was made, or
ii
would have been so entitled if he had had notice of it,
as if he were a party to the voluntary arrangement.
2A
If—
a
when the arrangement ceases to have effect any amount payable under the arrangement to a person bound by virtue of subsection (2)(b)(ii) has not been paid, and
b
the arrangement did not come to an end prematurely,
the company shall at that time become liable to pay to that person the amount payable under the arrangement.
3
Subject as follows, if the company is being wound up or F13is in administration, the court may do one or both of the following, namely—
a
by order stay or sist all proceedings in the winding up or F13provide for the appointment of the administrator to cease to have effect;
b
give such directions with respect to the conduct of the winding up or the administration as it thinks appropriate for facilitating the implementation of the F11... voluntary arrangement.
F1013A
Where immediately before the voluntary arrangement took effect a moratorium for the company was in force under Part A1 and a petition for the winding up of the company, other than an excepted petition within the meaning of section A20, was presented before the beginning of the moratorium, the court must dismiss the petition.
4
The court shall not make an order under subsection (3)(a) F102or dismiss a petition under subsection (3A)—
a
at any time before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the first day on which each of the reports required by section 4(6) F75and (6A) has been made to the court, or
b
at any time when an application under the next section or an appeal in respect of such an application is pending, or at any time in the period within which such an appeal may be brought.
F145
Where the company is in energy administration, the court shall not make an order or give a direction under subsection (3) unless—
a
the court has given the Secretary of State or the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority a reasonable opportunity of making representations to it about the proposed order or direction; and
b
the order or direction is consistent with the objective of the energy administration.
6
In subsection (5) “in energy administration” and “objective of the energy administration” are to be construed in accordance with Schedule B1 to this Act, as applied by Part 1 of Schedule 20 to the Energy Act 2004.
C5C6C19C22C246 Challenge of decisions.
1
Subject to this section, an application to the court may be made, by any of the persons specified below, on one or both of the following grounds, namely—
a
that a voluntary arrangement F15which has effect under section 4A unfairly prejudices the interests of a creditor, member or contributory of the company;
b
that there has been some material irregularity at or in relation to F76the meeting of the company, or in relation to the relevant qualifying decision procedure.
F771A
In this section—
a
the “relevant qualifying decision procedure” means the qualifying decision procedure in which the company's creditors decide whether to approve a voluntary arrangement;
b
references to a decision made in the relevant qualifying decision procedure include any other decision made in that qualifying decision procedure.
2
The persons who may apply under F16subsection (1) are—
a
a person entitled, in accordance with the rules, to vote at F78the meeting of the company or in the relevant qualifying decision procedure;
F17aa
a person who would have been entitled, in accordance with the rules, to vote F79in the relevant qualifying decision procedure if he had had notice of it;
b
the nominee or any person who has replaced him under section 2(4) or 4(2); and
c
if the company is being wound up or F18is in administration, the liquidator or administrator.
F192A
Subject to this section, where a voluntary arrangement in relation to a company in energy administration is approved at the meetings summoned under section 3, an application to the court may be made—
a
by the Secretary of State, or
b
with the consent of the Secretary of State, by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority,
on the ground that the voluntary arrangement is not consistent with the achievement of the objective of the energy administration.
3
An application under this section shall not be made
F20a
b
but (subject to that) an application made by a person within subsection (2)(aa) on the ground that the voluntary arrangement prejudices his interests may be made after the arrangement has ceased to have effect, unless it came to an end prematurely.
4
Where on such an application the court is satisfied as to either of the grounds mentioned in subsection (1) F22or, in the case of an application under subsection (2A), as to the ground mentioned in that subsection, it may do F83any of the following, namely—
a
b
give a direction to any person for the summoning of F85a further company meeting to consider any revised proposal the person who made the original proposal may make or, in the case falling within subsection (1)(b), F86and relating to the company meeting, a further company meeting to reconsider the original proposal;
F87c
direct any person—
i
to seek a decision from the company's creditors (using a qualifying decision procedure) as to whether they approve any revised proposal the person who made the original proposal may make, or
ii
in a case falling within subsection (1)(b) and relating to the relevant qualifying decision procedure, to seek a decision from the company's creditors (using a qualifying decision procedure) as to whether they approve the original proposal.
5
Where at any time after giving a direction under subsection (4)(b) F88or (c) in relation to a revised proposal the court is satisfied that the person who made the original proposal does not intend to submit a revised proposal, the court shall revoke the direction and revoke or suspend any F25decision approving the voluntary arrangement which has effect under section 4A.
6
In a case where the court, on an application under this section with respect to any meeting F89or relevant qualifying decision procedure —
a
gives a direction under subsection (4)(b) F90or (c), or
b
revokes or suspends an approval under subsection (4)(a) or (5),
the court may give such supplemental directions as it thinks fit and, in particular, directions with respect to things done F26under the voluntary arrangement since it took effect.
7
Except in pursuance of the preceding provisions of this section,
F91a
b
a decision of the company's creditors made in the relevant qualifying decision procedure is not invalidated by any irregularity in relation to the relevant qualifying decision procedure.
F288
In this section “in energy administration” and “objective of the energy administration” are to be construed in accordance with Schedule B1 to this Act, as applied by Part 1 of Schedule 20 to the Energy Act 2004.
F296A False representations, etc.
1
If, for the purpose of obtaining the approval of the members or creditors of a company to a proposal for a voluntary arrangement, a person who is an officer of the company—
a
makes any false representation, or
b
fraudulently does, or omits to do, anything,
he commits an offence.
2
Subsection (1) applies even if the proposal is not approved.
3
For purposes of this section “officer” includes a shadow director.
4
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable to imprisonment or a fine, or both.
C7C207 Implementation of proposal.
1
This section applies where a voluntary arrangement F30has effect under section 4A.
2
The person who is for the time being carrying out in relation to the voluntary arrangement the functions conferred—
F31a
on the nominee by virtue of the approval F94of the voluntary arrangement by the company or its creditors (or both) pursuant to section 3,
b
by virtue of section 2(4) or 4(2) on a person other than the nominee,
shall be known as the supervisor of the voluntary arrangement.
3
If any of the company’s creditors or any other person is dissatisfied by any act, omission or decision of the supervisor, he may apply to the court; and on the application the court may—
a
confirm, reverse or modify any act or decision of the supervisor,
b
give him directions, or
c
make such other order as it thinks fit.
4
The supervisor—
a
may apply to the court for directions in relation to any particular matter arising under the voluntary arrangement, and
b
is included among the persons who may apply to the court for the winding up of the company or for an administration order to be made in relation to it.
5
The court may, whenever—
a
it is expedient to appoint a person to carry out the functions of the supervisor, and
b
it is inexpedient, difficult or impracticable for an appointment to be made without the assistance of the court,
6
The power conferred by subsection (5) is exercisable so as to increase the number of persons exercising the functions of supervisor or, where there is more than one person exercising those functions, so as to replace one or more of those persons.
C8F337A Prosecution of delinquent officers of company.
F1041
This section applies where the approval of a voluntary arrangement in relation to a company has taken effect under section 4A.
C92
F103If it appears to the supervisor that any past or present officer of the company has committed an offence in connection with the voluntary arrangement, the supervisor must forthwith
a
report the matter to the appropriate authority, and
b
provide the appropriate authority with such information and give the authority such access to and facilities for inspecting and taking copies of documents (being information or documents in the possession or under the control of the F105... supervisor and relating to the matter in question) as the authority requires.
In this subsection, “the appropriate authority” means—
- i
in the case of a company registered in England and Wales, the Secretary of State, and
- ii
in the case of a company registered in Scotland, the Lord Advocate.
- i
3
Where a report is made to the Secretary of State under subsection (2), he may, for the purpose of investigating the matter reported to him and such other matters relating to the affairs of the company as appear to him to require investigation, exercise any of the powers which are exercisable by inspectors appointed under section 431 or 432 of the F34the Companies Act 1985 to investigate a company’s affairs.
4
For the purpose of such an investigation any obligation imposed on a person by any provision of the F35the Companies Acts to produce documents or give information to, or otherwise to assist, inspectors so appointed is to be regarded as an obligation similarly to assist the Secretary of State in his investigation.
5
An answer given by a person to a question put to him in exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (3) may be used in evidence against him.
6
However, in criminal proceedings in which that person is charged with an offence to which this subsection applies—
a
no evidence relating to the answer may be adduced, and
b
no question relating to it may be asked,
by or on behalf of the prosecution, unless evidence relating to it is adduced, or a question relating to it is asked, in the proceedings by or on behalf of that person.
7
Subsection (6) applies to any offence other than—
a
an offence under section 2 or 5 of the M1Perjury Act 1911 (false statements made on oath otherwise than in judicial proceedings or made otherwise than on oath), or
b
an offence under section 44(1) or (2) of the M2Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (false statements made on oath or otherwise than on oath).
8
Where a prosecuting authority institutes criminal proceedings following any report under subsection (2), the F106... supervisor, and every officer and agent of the company past and present (other than the defendant or defender), shall give the authority all assistance in connection with the prosecution which he is reasonably able to give.
For this purpose—
“agent” includes any banker or solicitor of the company and any person employed by the company as auditor, whether that person is or is not an officer of the company,
“prosecuting authority” means the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Lord Advocate or the Secretary of State.
9
The court may, on the application of the prosecuting authority, direct any person referred to in subsection (8) to comply with that subsection if he has failed to do so.
F367B Arrangements coming to an end prematurely.
For the purposes of this Part, a voluntary arrangement the approval of which has taken effect under section 4A F107... comes to an end prematurely if, when it ceases to have effect, it has not been fully implemented in respect of all persons bound by the arrangement by virtue of section 5(2)(b)(i) F108....
Pt. 1 applied (with modifications) (1.12.1994) by The Insolvent Partnerships Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/2421), arts. 4(1), 5(1), Sch. 1 (as amended (1.1.2003) by S.I. 2002/2708, arts. 4-6 (with transitional provisions in art. 11); (1.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/1516, art. 6; (1.4.2013) by S.I. 2013/472, Sch. 2 para. 11(a); (1.1.2015) by S.I. 2014/3486, arts. 1(2), 12 (with art. 3); (6.4.2017) by S.I. 2017/540, reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 4 (with reg. 4); (19.12.2018) by S.I. 2018/1244, arts. 1(2), 18(2) (with art. 3)); and (28.12.2020) (temp.) by S.I. 2020/1350, regs. 1(4), 121(2))