The looming insolvency crisis

A record number of corporate insolvencies in the first quarter of 2022 suggest the corporate sector faces a crisis

Back in May, we warned that a wave of company failures would hit UK firms in the latter half of 2022. Just three months later, it appears the situation may be even grimmer than predicted. This week, reports revealed that corporate insolvencies were up more than 80% in the past quarter compared to 2021. This…

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McDonald’s profits as UK restaurants flounder

McDonald's announced global profits while hiking selected menu items

American fast food chain McDonald’s recently announced plans to increase the price of some items on their UK menu. In a carefully-worded statement, McDonald’s U.K. and Ireland CEO, Alistair Macrow claimed that: “Just like you, our company, our franchisees who own and operate our restaurants, and our suppliers are all feeling the impact of rising…

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Company insolvencies rapidly increasing

A surge in company liquidations in England and Wales since the Covid-19 pandemic

Government figures reveal a 40% increase in the number of registered companies that entered insolvency procedures during the past year. Newly-released data shows the number of companies entering statutory insolvency procedures has risen 15% compared to pre-pandemic levels in June 2019. Furthermore, the number of companies that were placed into a creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL)…

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Insolvency Service adjusts IVA payment rules

Insolvency Services urges insolvency practitioners to consider cost of living crisis in IVA procedures

The Insolvency Service is to overhaul the Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) regime in the wake of the cost of living crisis.   Individual Voluntary Arrangements are legally binding court-approved agreements that people make to pay all or part of the debts they owe. An IVA is a statutory insolvency procedure managed by an insolvency practitioner…

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Prepare for the zombie company storm

Zombie companies harm other businesses because they trade while insolvent

Directors and business owners should expect to see the beginning of the pandemic fallout during the second half of 2022. Currently, Britain’s economy is operating with a dangerously high number of zombies, insolvent companies that: Earn just enough money to continue trading Are unable to pay off their debt This miserable and worrisome situation is…

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Increase in IVAs and personal insolvencies

Bankruptcies fall, but individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) and personal insolvency procedures increase in the first quarter of 2022

Personal insolvencies increased dramatically in the first quarter of 2022, according to the latest Government figures. Between January and March, the Insolvency Service reported 32,305 personal insolvencies, 14% more than during the first quarter of 2021. Clearly, the effects of the Covid-19 lockdowns are in full swing. Serious financial downfalls are to be expected as…

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