Starting A New Company After Liquidation
A phoenix company is simply a new company rising from the ashes of the old one (hence it gets its name from the the mythical bird of fire in ancient Greece which rises from the ashes!).
A phoenix company typically starts out after the “business” and or “its assets” of an insolvent company are bought in administration or liquidation by the company’s directors. The business continues trading as a new entity, starting fresh.
Is a Phoenix Company Legal Under Insolvency Law?
Yes! This process is entirely legal, so long that rules are followed and behaviour is not misleading or wrongful.
Phoenix companies do have some negative connotations with trade creditors who are awaiting monies owed and then see their debtors (the directors) starting out again, debt free!
‘Phoenixing’ is the term to describe when directors rack up debts, sell off the company’s assets to a newly formed company (usually under the same name) and to the same directors with assets transferred at below value or for nothing. This is all to benefit the directors, and not the creditors who are defrauded! This is not acceptable!!! Hence now there are rules in place to prevent even the slightest possibility of such activity.
What are the rules for setting up a phoenix company?
There are many reasons why companies fail, not always being due to directors’ wrongdoing. Due to this the UK law allows company owners and directors to carry on trading in the same way as before, so long that the individuals involved are not personally bankrupt and have not been disqualified as a director.
The following rules must be complied with:
The assets of the old company must be sold and purchased for a fair price, having been advertised and marketed properly (Seek assistance from a chartered surveyor or auctioneer to ensure the best outcome).
Ensure the creditors’ interests are not compromised by investigating the conduct of the company directors prior to the liquidation.
Creditors must be notified of the sale, no later than 2 weeks following the sale. Creditors must also be informed of all the actions taken by the Insolvency Practitioner.
TUPE regulations may come into play, and the new company will need to take on the employment contracts of the old company.
There are also some issues which you must be aware of:
The new company must have a completely different name to that of the company which entered liquidation (though the Court can make exceptions). This is under section 216 of the Insolvency Act 1986.
A credit search of the new company will reveal that the previous directors had failures in the past which means that it might be harder to borrow money.
HMRC may demand VAT deposits for the new company, especially if they lost out in the liquidation of the previous company.
HMRC may take the view that the company has been liquidated purely to avoid tax. If this is the case, they can reclaim it. There are ‘Anti-Phoenix’ rules from HMRC which apply to companies which meet conditions to suggest that they have been wound up simply to avoid income tax;
- Shareholders must have a minimum 5% equity and voting interest prior to the liquidation,
- The distributing company must be either currently or in the two years prior to liquation, a ‘close company’ i.e. has five or fewer participants,
- Their must be reasonable evidence to suggest that the liquidation was prompted by the possibility of paying reduced income tax,
- The recipient shareholders are seen to be involved in a similar business within a two-year period of shutting down the original company.
What if I want to carry on the business even if the company is insolvent?
This is possible…it is called a pre-pack administration. The sale of assets and the good-will of the company is pre-arranged in a deal/sale with the company’s directors. This tends to be the preferred option as it provides the best outcome for creditors so long the directors pay a fair price for the assets.
Another option is a creditors voluntary liquidation. A newly formed company can be created from a new company buying some of the assets and goodwill of the company from the liquidators (at a fair price determined by a valuer!)
In the case of companies failing due to misconduct by directors, investigations must be taken, and actions followed for those who have acted against the publics best interest. When evidence is found, the Secretary of State has the power to disqualify the director for acting in the formation, promotion and management of a limited company for up to 15 years.
