By John Wood (Lancashire Law School, University of Central Lancashire)
In the UK, pre-packaged administrations (“pre-packs”), while few in number, receive widespread attention due to the controversial outcomes that they often produce. The pre-pack process seems to have gained much exposure in recent years, but it is by no means a new concept. The negative reputation that pre-packs have resides with the lack of transparency that surrounds the process, in addition to connected parties purchasing the old company. Such an outcome leaves many creditors frustrated with both the lack of information received and the diminutive monies recovered for what they are owed.
Due to the sustained criticism of pre-packs, the British government reviewed the process to detect weaknesses in the UK’s company law framework and to ensure that the UK remained a competitive and attractive place to conduct business. This led to the Graham Review (“Review”), which made six recommendations that have since become somewhat essential to the survival of pre-packs as a non-legislative procedure. Ministerial pronouncements have put the profession on notice that, unless they take proper steps to produce substantial compliance with the Review’s findings, then legislative power will be exercised. While no further action has been taken, the Review appears to have attracted widespread support. The Review proposes non-legislative action, but the article examines whether, over time, legislation will become inevitable. What is therefore required is a balanced evaluation and critique of the Graham proposals—one that is capable of providing some form of yardstick against which to test the quality of any legislative initiatives which may be taken in the future.
The full article, published in 67 Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly 173 (2016), is available here.