Affect of Recent UAE Bankruptcy Legislation on Businesses Facing Cash Flow Difficulties
In March of 2019, an Emirati limited liability company (the “LLC”) had restructured its debts under the Bankruptcy Law; Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2016 which was first published in the Official Gazette on 29 September 2016 and came into force on 29 December 2016.
Under Chapter 4 of the Bankruptcy Law the Bankruptcy Circuit of the Abu Dhabi Primary Court oversaw the restructuring of the LLC under which had been operating in the contracting industry since 2008 and had debts exceeding eighteen times its paid-up capital.
This new judgment reflects the utility of the options available under the Bankruptcy Law and provides a real case example on how it could assist businesses facing difficulties because of cash flow issues without prejudice to the rights of creditors, or business owners.
The Bankruptcy Law provides businesses with cash flow issues an opportunity to safeguard their business from creditors until they can get back on their feet through various avenues, explained below, which at the same time do not prejudice the rights of creditors.
As opposed to liquidation – the procedure more commonly applied in the United Arab Emirates – bankruptcy is not aimed at concluding or expiring a business, on the contrary, it is aimed at providing an opportunity for the business to be restored as a productive member of the economy and to reutilize assets for continued production; notwithstanding that bankruptcy can be treated as a double-edged sword to penalize fraudulent activity of debtors.
Moreover, businesses can utilize the bankruptcy procedures to assist with other potential financial rescue methods. For example, with the rise of litigation funding in the region, distressed businesses can also augment their revitalization process by obtaining financial assistance in pursuing their own outstanding debts whilst in the period of restructuring or preventive composition.
Overview
The Bankruptcy Law aims at financially troubled companies and protecting the assets of creditors and shareholders, thus protecting economic activity and the investment environment in general.
In the first successful bankruptcy restructuring case, the Court referenced Article 67(1) of the Bankruptcy Law which states that:
“The procedures stated shall regulate the restructuring of the debtor, if possible, by helping the latter to implement the plan of restructuring of his business.”
A bankruptcy suit may be filed by:
1. A debtor if they cease to pay their debts on maturities of more than 30 days consecutive business days as a result of his difficult financial position or in case of insolvency;
2. A creditor or a group of creditors with ordinary debt of not less than AED (100,000) one hundred thousand may apply to the Court to commence bankruptcy procedures against the debtor, if the creditor(s) had already warned the debtor in writing to settle the due debt and the latter did not settle within (30) thirty consecutive working days from the date of notification thereof; or
3. The Public Prosecution may, for public interest requirements, request the Court to commence bankruptcy procedures, provided that it proves that the debtor is insolvent.
These procedures governed by the Bankruptcy Law regulate two possible outcomes based on the financial health of the company (1) restructuring of the debtor, if possible, by assisting implementation of the restructuring plan, or (2) declaring the debtor insolvent, by assisting in the commencement of a fair liquidation of assets to fulfill creditor obligations.
There are four methods of insolvency assistance under the Bankruptcy Law; preventive composition which permits the Court to oversee the rescue of a business; restructuring with Court oversight due to insolvency; liquidation due to insolvency; and obtaining new financing (with or without guarantee) in preventive composition or restructuring procedures.
The Bankruptcy law comprises of 231 Articles and is quite elaborate on the processes and procedures, penalties and obligations, and tasks of those that may be involved. However, business owners and managers must act with caution as Chapter 6 of the Bankruptcy Law provides for a set of scenarios in which the board of directors, managers, liquidators, guardians or experts may be imprisoned and fined if their actions cause damage creditors’ rights. For example, Article 198 of the Bankruptcy Law states that a company’s board members, managers, and liquidators shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding AED (1,000,000) one million, if they are committed of – amongst other things – hiding, destroying, or changing the company’s books with intent to prejudice creditors, or if they embezzle part of the company’s assets.
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