Recommendations of the Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee

05-02-2016

Introduction The present structure of Bankruptcy and Insolvency law is multilayered and elaborate. Basically, it can be viewed from two different perspective-Individual Bankruptcy and Insolvency and Corporate Bankruptcy and Insolvency. The bankruptcy issue of partnership firms is treated in same manner as an Individual Bankruptcy. Of recently, a government appointed committee, Bankruptcy Law Reform Committee ("BLRC") which deliberated upon new framework on the subject. The BLRC under Chairmanship of Dr. T.K. Vishwanathan (Chairperson of the Committee) has recently submitted its report to the Government of India. The report has two volumes. The Volume I is dealing with findings and recommendations while Volume II is dealing with draft Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.  The committee has given some important recommendations including: a single code to resolve insolvency of all companies, partnerships, LLPs and individuals. The advantage of having one code would help better legal clarity on the subject. The committee also focused on minimizing the burden on judiciary at the same time also ensuring fairness. The article focuses on giving you a quick summary released by government and some additional inputs on the subject. A. Summary of the Recommendations of the Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee (BLRC) The Report of the BLRC is in two parts:

1. Rationale and Design/Recommendations;
2. A comprehensive draft Insolvency and Bankruptcy Bill covering all entities.

The content below is reproduced as summarized by the government website[1]. The draft Bill has consolidated the existing laws relating to insolvency of companies, limited liability entities (including limited liability partnerships and other entities with limited liability), unlimited liability partnerships and individuals which are presently scattered in a number of legislations, into a single legislation. The committee has observed that the enactment of the proposed Bill will provide greater clarity in the law and facilitate the application of consistent and coherent provisions to different stakeholders affected by business failure or inability to pay debt and will address the challenges being faced at present for swift and effective bankruptcy resolution. The Bill seeks to improve the handling of conflicts between creditors and debtors, avoid destruction of value, distinguish malfeasance vis-a-vis business failure and clearly allocate losses in macroeconomic downturns. The major recommendations of the Report are as follows: 1. Insolvency Regulator:The Bill proposes to establish an Insolvency Regulator to exercise regulatory oversight over insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and informational utilities. 2. Insolvency Adjudicating Authority:The Adjudicating Authority will have the jurisdiction to hear and dispose of cases by or against the debtor.

a. The Debt Recovery Tribunal (“DRT”) shall be the Adjudicating Authority with jurisdiction over individuals and unlimited liability partnership firms. Appeals from the order of DRT shall lie to the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal (“DRAT”).

b. The National Company Law Tribunal (“NCLT”) shall be the Adjudicating Authority with jurisdiction over companies, limited liability entities. Appeals from the order of NCLT shall lie to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (“NCLAT”).

c. NCLAT shall be the appellate authority to hear appeals arising out of the orders       passed by the Regulator in respect of insolvency professionals or information utilities.

3.   Insolvency Professionals: The draft Bill proposes to regulate insolvency professionals and insolvency professional agencies. Under Regulator’s oversight, these agencies will develop professional standards, codes of ethics and exercise a disciplinary role over errant members leading to the development of a competitive industry for insolvency professionals. 4. Insolvency Information Utilities:The draft Bill proposes for information utilities, which would collect, collates, authenticate and disseminate financial information from listed companies and financial and operational creditors of companies. An individual insolvency database is also proposed to be set up with the goal of providing information on insolvency status of individuals. 5. Bankruptcy and Insolvency Processes for Companies and Limited Liability Entities: The draft Bill proposes to revamp the revival/re-organisation regime applicable to financially distressed companies and limited liability entities; and the insolvency related liquidation regime applicable to companies and limited liability entities.

a. The draft Bill lays down a clear, coherent and speedy process for early identification of financial distress and revival of the companies and limited liability entities if the underlying business is found to be viable.

b. The draft Bill prescribes a swift process and timeline of 180 days for dealing with applications for insolvency resolution. The Adjudicating Authority only in exceptional cases can extend this for 90 days. During insolvency resolution period (of 180/270 days), the management of the debtor is placed in the hands of an interim resolution professional/resolution professional.

c. An insolvency resolution plan prepared by the resolution professional has to be approved by a majority of 75% of voting share of the financial creditors. Once the plan is approved, it would require sanction of the Adjudicating Authority. If an insolvency resolution plan is rejected, the Adjudicating Authority will make an order for the liquidation.

d. The draft Bill also provides for a fast track insolvency resolution processwhich may be applicable to certain categories of entities. In such a case, the insolvency resolution process has to be completed within a period of 90 days from the trigger date. However, on request from the resolution professional based on the resolution passed by the committee of creditors, a one-time extension of 45 days can be granted by the Adjudicating Authority. The order of priorities[waterfall] in which the proceeds from the realization of the assets of the entity are to be distributed to its creditors is also provided for.

6. Bankruptcy and Insolvency Processes for Individuals and Unlimited Liability Partnerships:The draft Bill also proposes an insolvency regime for individuals and unlimited liability partnerships also. As a precursor to a bankruptcy process, the draft Bill envisages two distinct processes under this Part, namely, Fresh Start and Insolvency Resolution.

a. In the Fresh Start process, indigent individuals with income and assets lesser than specified thresholds (annual gross income does not exceed Rs. 60,000 and aggregate value of assets does not exceed Rs.20,000) shall be eligible to apply for a discharge from their “qualifying debts” (i.e. debts which are liquidated, unsecured and not excluded debts and up to Rs.35,000). The resolution professional will investigate and prepare a final list of all qualifying debts within 180 days from the date of application. On the expiry of this period, the Adjudicating Authority will pass an order on discharging of the debtor from the qualifying debts and accord an opportunity to the debtor to start afresh, financially.

b. In the Insolvency Resolution Process, the creditors and the debtor will engage in negotiations to arrive at an agreeable repayment plan for composition of the debts and affairs of the debtor, supervised by a resolution professional.

c. The bankruptcy of an individual can be initiated only after the failure of the resolution process. The bankruptcy trustee is responsible for administration of the estate of the bankrupt and for distribution of the proceeds on the basis of the priority.

7.   Transition Provision: The draft Bill lays down a transition provision during which the Central Government shall exercise all the powers of the Regulator till the time the Regulator is established. This transition provision will enable quick starting of the process on the ground without waiting for the proposed institutional structure to develop. 8. Transfer of proceedings: Any proceeding pending before the AAIFR or the BIFR under the SICA, 1985, immediately before the commencement of this law shall stand abated. However, a company in respect of which such proceeding stands abated may make a reference to Adjudicating Authority within 180 days from the commencement of this law.

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Conclusions The reforms as mentioned in Committee’s report on Bankruptcy and Insolvency Laws have following impact on Indian economic and legal fabric:

• The present jurisdiction of firm insolvency and liquidation is vested with National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the appellate jurisdiction too is vested with the same body. The committee is of the view to continue the same.
• Jurisdiction of Individual Bankruptcy and Insolvency is vested with the High Courts in Madras, Mumbai, Kolkata and in District Courts in rest of the country. However, infrastructure to resolve these should have much wider presence which is sufficed by DRT and therefore, the same should be given the power to resolve such disputes.
• The jurisdiction currently is based on multiple things depending upon the forums entertaining the same. Therefore, the jurisdiction would be based on either where the cause of action arose or where the debtor is located. No concurrent jurisdiction to be vested with civil court if alternative court is vested with the jurisdiction. Any Civil Court must grant no injunction to proceedings in designated bodies.
• The constitution of Insolvency Professionals is new professionals identified to handle such issue with three fold responsibility-to resolve insolvency for firms and individuals; as bankruptcy trustee in individual bankruptcy process; liquidator in firm process.
• The Code would provide for calm period for creditors and debtors to negotiate on viability of entity.
• The unified code would cover all entities except with dominant financial Function.
• The provision for fast track resolution of dispute is not negated.

[1] http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=130208