Insolvency and Restructuring

Short Reads - Het Wetsvoorstel Wet Homologatie onderhands akkoord (“WHOA”) is op 26 mei 2020 door de Tweede Kamer aangenomen en is momenteel in behandeling bij de Eerste Kamer. De WHOA combineert aspecten van de Engelse Scheme of Arrangement en de Amerikaanse Chapter 11 procedure. Ondernemingen die in zwaar weer verkeren krijgen de mogelijkheid om hun schulden buiten formele insolventieprocedures te herstructureren door een akkoord op te leggen aan (een deel van) de schuldeisers. De verwachting is dat de wet dit najaar in werking zal treden.

Short Reads - On 26 May 2020, the Dutch Parliament’s House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) adopted the Act on confirmation of private restructuring plans (Wet homologatie onderhands akkoord (“WHOA”)). The next step will see the WHOA put to vote in the Senate.

Short Reads - As mentioned in our earlier blog, the Dutch legislator has prepared a bill – the Act on confirmation of private restructuring plans (Wet homologatie onderhands akkoord) – which introduces a framework allowing debtors to restructure their debts outside formal insolvency proceedings (the “Dutch Scheme“).

Short Reads - The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant and immediate adverse effect on many companies in different industries. Many PE portfolio companies are particularly vulnerable given the typical high leverage finance structure and inherent need to maintain cash flow. To meet these challenges and mitigate liability risks, management and owners may need to take clear and immediate action (and refrain from certain other actions) in the interest of all stakeholders. The following sets out some key legal guidelines for management and owners when dealing with a Dutch subsidiary in distress.

Short Reads - Het op 2 juni 2020 bij de Tweede Kamer ingediende wetsvoorstel opheffing verpandingsverboden (het “Wetsvoorstel”) beoogt de bestaande praktijk van het contractueel overeenkomen van verboden of beperkingen van de overdracht of verpanding van geldvorderingen op naam, voor zover die verkregen zijn in de uitoefening van beroep of bedrijf, op te heffen. Na inwerkingtreding van het Wetsvoorstel zullen dergelijke bedingen nietig zijn. In dit bericht een weergave van de (mogelijke) impact op de financieringspraktijk.

Articles - The Belgium Chapter of the International Comparative Legal Guide to Restructuring & Insolvency 2020 is online. The publication, authored by Paul Van der Putten and Pieter Wouters, covers common topics in restructuring and insolvency, including issues that arise when a company is in financial difficulties, restructuring options, insolvency procedures, tax, employees, and cross-border issues in 27 jurisdictions. 

Seminar - The global COVID-19 crisis poses major challenges to many companies, their shareholders and financiers. On Thursday 23 April 2020 from 13.30 to 14.30 (CEST) Stibbe organizes a webinar on restructuring of corporate finance and distressed M&A. Stibbe partners Job van Hooff (Insolvency & Restructuring), Reinout de Boer (Tax) and Duco de Boer (Corporate | M&A) will discuss important issues and developments.

Short Reads - Job van Hooff and Daisy Nijkamp, in collaboration with Lexology, will present a webinar on WHOA on 2 April 2020. During the webinar they will look at a new bill prepared by the Dutch legislature - the Act on the Confirmation of Private Restructuring Plans (Wet homologatie onder onderhand akkoord) - which introduces a framework that makes it possible for debtors to restructure their debts outside formal insolvency proceedings.