Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Surge in liquidations predicted as Covid protection measures come to an end

Compulsory liquidations of struggling UK businesses have surged 76% from 139 to 245 in the last three months, says international audit, tax and advisory firm Mazars.

The company says even more liquidations are expected in the next three months as the last temporary Government measure to protect companies from insolvency during the pandemic expires tomorrow.

Creditors owed £750 or more will now be able to submit winding-up petitions against businesses – previously companies had to owe £10,000 or more to be liable for winding up by creditors.

Michael Pallott, Partner at Mazars, says many firms have been struggling with the impact of interest rate rises, inflation and supply chain issues, driving up the number of businesses going insolvent.

The decision not to extend the remaining pandemic insolvency measures means that the insolvency regime for England & Wales will return to its pre-pandemic system. Measures the Government adopted to help shield struggling businesses from insolvency included:

  • Additional hurdles to issue winding up petitions
  • A ban on commercial landlord evictions
  • Restrictions on exercising commercial rent arrears recovery

He said: “The end of the Covid-related insolvency protection measures comes at a very bad time for many businesses. Liquidations are already rising and many more are likely to be coming.

“Some businesses have been kept alive for two years by furlough, CBILS and BBLS and the additional barriers put in place before their creditors could use the compulsory liquidation process. Some will reach the end of the road in the coming months.”

“With interest rates rising and inflation spiralling, a lot of businesses are looking at some very difficult months ahead. Pandemic-related insolvency measures could not be extended indefinitely and this now paves the way for creditors who are owed £750 or more to instigate insolvency proceedings against financially distressed businesses.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our news site - please take a moment to read this important message:

As you know, our aim is to bring you, the reader, an editorially led news site and magazine but journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them.

With the Covid-19 pandemic having a major impact on our industry as a whole, the advertising revenues we normally receive, which helps us cover the cost of our journalists and this website, have been drastically affected.

As such we need your help. If you can support our news sites/magazines with either a small donation of even £1, or a subscription to our magazine, which costs just £33.60 per year, (inc p&P and mailed direct to your door) your generosity will help us weather the storm and continue in our quest to deliver quality journalism.

As a subscriber, you will have unlimited access to our web site and magazine. You'll also be offered VIP invitations to our events, preferential rates to all our awards and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Just click here to subscribe and in the meantime may I wish you the very best.









Latest news

Related news

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close