- High Street GRP has over 1,500 retail investors. Many are vulnerable because of age, health, absent professional advice and a lack of requisite experience
- Over 2,500 investment transactions were undertaken by the 1,500+ retail investors
- A total of £118m was poured into the Company by retail investors prior to its collapse
- Over £50m in property assets (land and buildings) is said to have been transferred from the Company to Hadrian Real Estate Plc without any payment of funds
- This transfer of assets was undertaken at a time when the Company was seriously insolvent and therefore in breach of Insolvency law, which was detrimental to creditors' interests
- Although the initial period of the statutory insolvency is 12 months, the process may take years to complete and provide creditors with little or no return
The Company
The Administrators report should address the business of the Company in terms of how it traded and raised funds from investors. The report should attempt to explain when the Company ran into trading difficulties and started to default on its obligations, particularly to investors.
The Report
It is well known the Company has been trading while insolvent since the middle of 2018. The Administrators report should disclose this and we must wait and see to what extent. What we do know is those who invested in the Company beyond the time when it became insolvent were unduly exposed to unnecessary risk that could have been easily avoided.
The Proposal
The Administrator's proposal should disclose how they intend to realise the Company’s assets for the benefit its creditors. But we all know the Company has next to no realisable assets unless it looks towards its subsidiaries and HRE, which could be problematic for both. So where else can asset realisations come from to pay creditors?
Recovery Plan
The Administrators’ proposals will disclose if they have bought into the recovery plan promoted by management and the Investor Committee, or pursued an alternative course.
Investigations
If the Administrators do not receive the required cooperation from the Company’s former management in regards to movement of the Company’s assets, the investigation to recover such assets will undoubtedly become lengthy, contentious, and costly. Important question: will there be available funds in the Administration to fund investigations that will inevitably costs hundreds and thousands of pounds, and could quite easily exceed £1m?
What Next?
Creditors must await the Administrators’ report and proposals for the Company, and carefully consider its content.
If creditors want a representative to act on their behalf, they will receive proxy and proof of debt forms to complete. Creditors will also be invited to establish a creditors’ committee, which is created and governed by the Administrators. However, it is still an effective forum to assert creditors interest.
We understand a significant body of creditors will not engage with this insolvency process due to being either busy, insufficiently informed, disinterested, or some other reason. However, if creditors want to improve their prospects, they must act together as a single majority and not a minority or alone. The insolvency process is an alien concept to most people and creditors are no exception.
We understand the insolvency process very well and use it to benefit creditors’ interests. Let us do the same for you too.
Our creditor representation service is offered to you without any fee obligation on your part. We will never charge you for this service. We have a common goal.
If you have not already done so, simply complete and return to us the following:
- Letter of Authority
- Proof of Debt form
- Proxy
We will keep you informed of our progress at all times.