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Debt Restructuring Part 3 – Restructuring plans

This is the third part in a blog series discussing the new debt restructuring regime, which commences on 1 January 2021. This blog discusses the the process of putting forward a restructuring plan to creditors.

The regime will be implemented through substantial amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“the Act”) and the Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth) (“the Regulations“). Relevant links are:

How a restructuring plan is to be proposed is guided by the Regulations (Division 3, Subdivision B). The process is again somewhat similar to a voluntary administration, but instead it avoids the need to call creditors meetings. A regime for the restructuring practitioner to resolve disputes about creditors’ debts is tied into the process. A brief overview of the process follows. [...]  READ MORE →

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Debt Restructuring Part 2 – affects on a company under restructuring

This is the second part in a blog series discussing the new debt restructuring regime, which commences on 1 January 2021. This blog discusses the effects on a company entering debt restructuring, and its creditors.

The regime will be implemented through substantial amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“the Act”) and the Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth). Relevant links are:

Conduct of the company’s business

Section 453L of the Act will prohibit the directors from entering the company into any transactions dealing with the company’s property, unless one of the following applies: [...]  READ MORE →

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Debt Restructuring Part 1 – Introduction, Eligibility & the Restructuring Practitioner

This is the first part in a series of blogs discussing the new debt restructuring regime, which commences on 1 January 2021. The regime will be implemented through substantial amendments to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (“the Act”) and the Corporations Regulations 2001 (Cth). Relevant links are:

The amendments will include a new Part to the Act – Part 5.3B, titled “Restructuring of a company”. The Part sets out the regime (referred to as a ‘restructuring’) for directors of insolvent companies to propose and enter into a ‘restructuring plan’ with creditors. The process is overseen by a ‘restructuring practitioner’, who must be a registered liquidator (s 456B of the Act). The focus on this process is that it allows directors to retain some control of the company, reducing the costs of having an insolvency practitioner involved in day-to-day operations. [...]  READ MORE →

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SME Debt Restructuring Legislation Passed

By Andrew Hack, Solicitor, and Stephen Mullette, Principal, of Matthews Folbigg Lawyers, in our Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group.

The Corporations Amendment (Corporate Insolvency Reforms) Bill 2020 has been passed in the Senate as of yesterday. The legislation will take effect from 1 January 2021.

The centrepiece of the legislation is the introduction of a new restructuring mechanism for SME’s, called ‘Debt Restructuring’. The process allows insolvent SME’s to put forward a proposal to creditors to resolve unsecured debts and allow the company to continue trading. The process is similar to Part IX debt agreements available to insolvent individuals under the bankruptcy legislation. [...]  READ MORE →

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Debt Restructuring legislation proposed for SMEs

By Andrew Hack, Solicitor, and Stephen Mullette, Principal, of Matthews Folbigg Lawyers, in our Insolvency, Restructuring and Debt Recovery Group.

The Treasury has today announced its Draft Bill designed to create a new, affordable restructuring mechanism for distressed small to medium businesses. The legislation seeks to resolve problems SMEs face in affording the costs of expensive Voluntary Administration processes. The Australian Government’s “Debt Restructuring” solution is a new process similar to a Part IX debt agreement available to insolvent individuals under bankruptcy legislation, as well as Chapter 11 arrangements available to companies in the US. [...]  READ MORE →