RESTRUCTURING

Swan O Sullivan can draw on the significant experience of our professional team to provide a specialist restructuring services. Don’t ignore the early warning signs that can threaten a company’s survival. Early warnings signs include:

  •  Delaying paying creditors
  •  Submitting Revenue returns late or without payment
  •  Purchasing equipment on finance when you previously paid cash

If you can identify the problem, take specialist advice when it is detected. The longer you leave it, the less likely a restructuring can be achieved, and the company will probably be liquidated. Unless a carefully considered plan in is place companies can find that most effort is concentrated on the financial restructuring and debt restructuring of the business while underlying operational and management problems continue to exist. Our team of experts can help identify the problems that contributed to the crisis. They can guide you to effective solutions to the unique problems facing your organisation.

To discuss your restructuring options, please contact us.

INSOLVENCY

If you’re facing financial difficulties, whether as a business or an individual, and you can’t seem to find a solution to your problems on your own, SOS can provide timely and invaluable support – and the sooner you contact us, the quicker we can help you stabilise your financial situation.

 

PERSONAL INSOLVENCY

In the current economic environment, personal insolvency / bankruptcy has unfortunately become a lot more prevalent due to the substantial decline in value of nearly every asset class including property investments, shares and other investments. Swan O Sullivan can draw on the significant experience of our professional team to provide a specialist service covering:

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

  •  Negotiate a settlement with your creditors
  •  Prepare an “Informal Scheme of Arrangement” with your creditors
  •  We can advise sole traders, Directors of collapsed companies and any individual with personal liabilities
  •  It is also possible to prepare a formal scheme of arrangement through the Court system

EXPERTISE

Swan O Sullivan are specialists in the area of insolvency and have vast experience dealing with the problems faced by Directors of collapsed companies including personal guarantees and the knock-on effects of corporate insolvency.

We deal with every type of creditor on a day to day basis including banks, leasing companies, trade creditors and the Revenue Commissioners.

  •  Creditors are generally encouraged to see the involvement of an independent professional accountant
  •  Creditors will appreciate honest and open dialogue throughout the process

If you are worried about your own financial position or you are facing personal insolvency, please contact us.

 

LIQUIDATION

A company is insolvent when it cannot pay its debts as they fall due. The company can take action itself and appoint a Liquidator, or if the situation becomes hostile, a Creditor may appoint a Liquidator or a Receiver.

CREDITORS’ VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION

In a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation, the Liquidator is appointed to the company by the Creditors of the insolvent company. The process commences with the Directors passing a resolution to make a recommendation to the Members that a Liquidator be appointed because the company is insolvent and cannot pay its debts as they fall due. The Liquidator is responsible for realising all of the company’s assets on behalf of the creditors and shareholders. The Liquidator reports to the Director of Corporate Enforcement in accordance with the Company Law Enforcement Act, 2001.

COURT LIQUIDATION

Official Liquidation is the name given to the form of liquidation which is brought about by Order of the High Court. The procedure is brought about by way of petition. The petition can be taken by the company itself or creditors of the company.

The Liquidator, known as the ‘Official Liquidator’, is appointed by the Court and is an officer of the Court. Under special circumstances, a Provisional Liquidator may be appointed, for example if there is a risk of the assets being dissipated.

RECEIVERSHIP

A Receiver is usually appointed by a secured creditor under a debenture containing a fixed and/or floating charge over all or most of the company’s assets. The Receiver is usually appointed because either the principal under a debenture is in arrears, the interest under a debenture is in arrears, or some other event has happened by which under the terms of the debenture the security has become enforceable. The powers of a Receiver are essentially to manage the business of the company, carry it on and realise assets so as to repay the debenture holder. The Receiver’s powers and duties depend largely on the terms of the debenture under which he/she has been appointed.

EXAMINERSHIP – AN ALTERNATIVE

Examinership is a process whereby the protection of the Court is obtained to assist the survival of a company. It allows a company to restructure – it is an alternative to winding up the company in financial difficulties. The Examinership process was provided for in the Companies Act 1990. A successful examinership must address the following core questions:

  •  Can the company prove that it has a reasonable prospect of survival?
  •  Does the company have investors ready to proceed with an immediate injection of capital?
  •  Will the company be able to avail of sufficient working capital to cover the period of Examinership?
  •  Are there sufficient assets in the company to cover the costs of the Examinership?

In order for the Examinership to succeed, the Creditors must agree to accept a ‘Scheme of Arrangement’ that is to accept a percentage of the debt.