How resolution ‘pre-packs for MSMEs can speed up insolvency cases

Best NDA Coaching in India – Best NDA Coaching in Lucknow

Best Study Material for NDA Exam — NDA Coaching in India

Top NDA Coaching in Lucknow — NDA Coaching in India

THE INSOLVENCY and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill 2021, passed by Lok Sabha on Wednesday has proposed pre-packs as an insolvency resolution mechanism for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The Bill will replace The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, which was promulgated on April 4 this year.

What is the Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PIRP) in the Bill and how does it differ from the existing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP)?

What are pre-packs?

A pre-pack envisages the resolution of the debt of a distressed company through a direct agreement between secured creditors and the existing owners or outside investors, instead of a public bidding process.

This system of insolvency proceedings has become an increasingly popular mechanism for insolvency resolution in the United Kingdom and Europe over the past decade. Under the pre-pack system, financial creditors will agree to terms with the promoters or a potential investor and seek approval of the resolution plan from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

The approval of at least 66 percent of financial creditors that are unrelated to the corporate debtor would be required before a resolution plan is submitted to the NCLT The NCLTS will be required to either accept or reject any application for a pre-pack insolvency proceeding before considering a petition for a CIRP.

Best NDA Academy in Lucknow — NDA Coaching in India

NDA Exam Date 2022 | Best NDA Coaching In Lucknow — NDA Coaching in India

How are pre-packs better than CIRP?

One of the key criticisms of the CIRP has been the time it takes for resolution. At the end of March 2021, 79 percent of the 1,723 ongoing insolvency resolution proceedings had crossed the 270-day threshold. A major reason for the delays is the prolonged litigation by erstwhile promoters and potential bidders.

Another key difference between pre-packs and CIRP is that the existing management retains control in the case of pre-packs, in the case of CIRP, a resolution professional takes control of the debtor as a representative of financial creditors Experts note that this ensures minimal disruption of operations relative to a CTRP.

Warriors Defence Academy Lucknow

Address: 545-GA/1-CHHA, beside Madhuwan Guest house Chandganj Near Railway Crossing, Kapoorthla, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226006

Phone: +91-7081011964
Website: https://warriorsdefenceacademy.com/

Is that the reason why the pre-pack has been introduced?

According to sources aware of the developments, pre-packs are largely aimed at providing MSMEs with an opportunity to re-structure their liabilities and start with a clean slate while still providing adequate protections so that the system is not misused by firms to avoid making payments to creditors.

Currently, only corporate debtors themselves are permitted to initiate a PIRP after obtaining the approval of 66 percent of their creditors.

Under the Swiss challenge mechanism, any third party would be permitted to submit a resolution plan for the distressed company, and the original applicant would have to either match the improved resolution plan or forego the investment.

What challenges can pre-packs bring?

Experts say the timeline for the PIRP may be difficult to meet for lenders and distressed firms, and that forensic audits were particularly important in cases where the control of the firm remains with the same management.

“Ordinarily where haircuts are involved, forensic/transaction audits become imperative, and a negative report becomes a roadblock in resolution involving the same management,” Anoop Rawat, Partner, Insolvency & Bankruptcy at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co said.

Rawat also said that if a firm restructures its outstanding debt through a PIRP with the management retaining control, the NPA status of the company’s account with lenders may not be automatically upgraded under the RBI guidelines.

“In order to motivate resolution under the PIRP, the RBI guidelines on account status may be aligned with the objective of IBC and the lenders may be given the benefit of account up-gradation upon resolution. There is a need for the IBBI and RBI to find middle ground on these regulations to make the PIRP more attractive,” he said.

Experts also noted that the debtor-in-possession model may militate against the Swiss challenge option, as the existing management may create hurdles for an outside investor seeking information to potentially invest in the company.

Under CIRP, a resolution professional is in charge of running the company and providing information to potential investors.

So, what next?

Experts have noted that the pre-pack mechanism is effective in arriving at a quick resolution for distressed companies and that the regime should be rolled out to all corporations over time as legal issues are settled by lenders through case law.

Content Writer by PRASHANT SINGH

Faculty of personality development | 5+ years of experience of teaching | Masters in English literature | 10 times CDS qualified, | Defence enthusiast, educator and explorer

Best NDA Coaching in India – Best NDA Coaching in Lucknow

How resolution ‘pre-packs for MSMEs can speed up insolvency cases