Who can Apply for an Administration or an Administration Order?

Schedule B1 of The Insolvency Act 1986 - How is an Administrator appointed? - Court & out of Court appointments

From the 15th September 2003 the Enterprise Act allows for both:

• the out of court appointment of an administrator and

• the court appointment of an administrator

The Enterprise Act Act is now incorporated into administration law as Schedule B1 of The Insolvency Act 1986.

Out of court appointment of an Administrator

As the heading suggests an Administrator can often be appointed "out of Court". This means that the appointment of an Administrator can on many occasions be achieved  within 24 hours of you first instructing an insolvency practitioner. This e appointment process is only available in certain circumstances.

Out of court appointments can be made by either:

• the directors or shareholders of the company

• the company bank (if the bank holds a what is known as a qualifying floating charge).

Appointment of administrator by the director or shareholders out of court

As a result of the Enterprise Act, the directors (and shareholders) of a company now have a speedier and cheaper route of getting their company under the protection of an administrator. This route involves the appointment of an administrator without there first being a court hearing. The law anticipates, however, that the directors must be responsible and pro-active in "going for a turn around" at an early date.

If the directors leave the deterioration of the affairs of the company to progress to such an extent that any of the following circumstances have arisen then the directors will not be able to appoint "out of court":

• if the company is already subject to a winding up petition

• if the company is already in liquidation

• where an administration application has been made (and not yet determined) by somebody else - eg. an application for an administration order to the court by a creditor.

• where an administrative receiver is already in place

• where, in the previous twelve months, the company has been in administration or subject to a company voluntary arrangement which has failed

• where the company is unable to show that it is or is likely to become able to pay its debts as they fall due

If any of the first five of these circumstances obtain then the directors may still apply for an administration order but only then by way of a court application.

The message for directors is:

"If you act early, before your company is subject to massive pressure, you may appoint an administrator out of court." If required and if necessary it is possible that such an appointment can be achieved on the same day that you first meet with Purnells.

Appointment of an administrator by the company bankers out of court

In certain circumstances a bank (which holds a "qualifying floating charge") can also appoint an administrator without there being a court application.

There is more on this website relating to banks and administration orders. 
Click on the left hand index heading "How do banks get involved".

Court appointment of an administrator

Creditors of a company do not have a direct "out of court" route to put an administrator in place over a company which owes money to them.

Such creditors have to apply for a court order that an administrator be appointed.

We would be pleased to help explain to you how an Administrator can be quickly appointed to your company so as to provide early protection from aggrieved creditors.