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Month: September 2023

Challenging Role of an Insolvency Professional under the IBC

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) introduced in India in 2016 has brought about a significant paradigm shift in the country’s insolvency and bankruptcy landscape. Central to the success of this legislation is the pivotal role played by insolvency professionals. These professionals are tasked with managing the insolvency resolution process, and their responsibilities are as challenging as they are crucial to the success of the entire framework.

Understanding the IBC:

The IBC was enacted to provide a unified and time-bound framework for the resolution of insolvency and bankruptcy cases in India. It aimed to streamline the process, protect the interests of creditors, and promote a culture of entrepreneurship and investment by ensuring a swift and efficient resolution of distressed assets. At the heart of this complex legal framework are insolvency professionals who act as facilitators and orchestrators of the resolution process.

Key Responsibilities of an Insolvency Professional:

  1. Initiating and Managing the Resolution Process: One of the primary responsibilities of an insolvency professional is to initiate the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). They must verify the claims of creditors, constitute the Committee of Creditors (CoC), and manage the day-to-day affairs of the corporate debtor.
  2. Preservation of Assets: Insolvency professionals are entrusted with the challenging task of preserving and safeguarding the assets of the corporate debtor. This includes ensuring that the business continues to operate as a going concern during the resolution process.
  3. Negotiating with Stakeholders: Effective communication and negotiation skills are paramount in an insolvency professional’s role. They must negotiate with various stakeholders, including creditors, promoters, and potential resolution applicants, to arrive at a mutually agreeable resolution plan.
  4. Transparent and Fair Process: Transparency and fairness are non-negotiable principles in the IBC. Insolvency professionals are responsible for conducting the resolution process impartially, ensuring that all stakeholders are treated equitably.
  5. Meeting Timelines: One of the most challenging aspects of an insolvency professional’s role is adhering to strict timelines. The IBC mandates time-bound resolution, and any delays can have significant repercussions.

Challenges Faced by Insolvency Professionals:

  1. Complex Legal Framework: The IBC is a complex legal framework that requires a deep understanding of insolvency laws and regulations. Navigating through its intricacies can be daunting.
  2. Balancing Interests: Insolvency professionals often find themselves in situations where they must balance the interests of various stakeholders, including creditors, employees, and promoters. Striking this balance can be challenging.
  3. Resistance and Litigation: Promoters and stakeholders may resist the resolution process and resort to litigation. Insolvency professionals must be prepared to handle such challenges effectively.
  4. Limited Resources: In many cases, insolvency professionals are tasked with managing distressed companies with limited resources. This demands resourcefulness and financial acumen.
  5. Market Volatility: Economic and market conditions can change rapidly, affecting the feasibility of resolution plans. Insolvency professionals must adapt to these fluctuations.

Conclusion:

The role of an insolvency professional under the IBC is undoubtedly challenging. It demands not only a deep understanding of insolvency laws but also a blend of negotiation skills, crisis management abilities, and financial acumen. The success of the IBC largely depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of these professionals in managing distressed assets and facilitating the resolution process. Despite the challenges, their role is instrumental in achieving the objectives of the IBC, including the timely resolution of insolvency cases and the maximization of value for creditors.

Restructuring & Insolvency – The Indian Scenario

The landscape of restructuring and insolvency in India has witnessed a significant transformation in recent years, primarily driven by the enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016. This landmark legislation has not only streamlined the insolvency resolution process but has also instilled confidence among domestic and foreign investors, making India a more attractive destination for business and investment. In this article, we will explore the Indian scenario of restructuring and insolvency, with a particular focus on the IBC and its impact.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC):

The IBC is undoubtedly the cornerstone of the Indian restructuring and insolvency framework. It was introduced to provide a unified, time-bound, and efficient mechanism for the resolution of insolvency and bankruptcy cases. One of its key objectives was to shift the focus from a debtor-in-possession to a creditor-in-control regime.

Key Features of the IBC:

  1. Time-Bound Resolution: The IBC prescribes strict timelines for the resolution process, ensuring that insolvency cases are resolved within a maximum of 330 days.
  2. Creation of a Committee of Creditors (CoC): A CoC comprising financial creditors plays a central role in the insolvency resolution process. They have the authority to approve or reject resolution plans.
  3. Cross-Border Insolvency: The IBC allows for cooperation with foreign countries in matters of cross-border insolvency, enhancing the resolution process’s efficiency.
  4. Maximization of Asset Value: The primary objective of the IBC is to maximize the value of distressed assets, benefiting all stakeholders involved.

Impact on the Indian Scenario:

The introduction of the IBC has had several noteworthy impacts on the Indian restructuring and insolvency landscape:

  1. Boost in Investor Confidence: The IBC has instilled confidence among investors, both domestic and foreign, as it ensures a transparent and predictable framework for handling distressed assets.
  2. Resolution of Stressed Assets: The IBC has facilitated the timely resolution of stressed assets, preventing their further deterioration and contributing to economic stability.
  3. Reduced NPA Burden: Banks and financial institutions have been able to reduce their non-performing asset (NPA) burden through the IBC, thereby strengthening the financial sector.
  4. Promotion of Entrepreneurship: The IBC encourages entrepreneurship by providing a mechanism for the swift exit of non-viable businesses and the revival of potentially viable ones.

Challenges and Future Outlook:

Despite its successes, the Indian restructuring and insolvency framework face challenges. Some key challenges include:

  1. Operational Hurdles: The efficient implementation of the IBC at the operational level remains a challenge, including issues related to infrastructure and capacity.
  2. Avoidance Transactions: Addressing avoidance transactions and fraudulent practices in insolvency cases remains a concern.
  3. Cross-Border Insolvency: While the IBC provides for cross-border insolvency, there is a need for more comprehensive regulations in this area.

The future outlook for restructuring and insolvency in India is positive. The government and regulatory authorities continue to refine and improve the IBC. The adoption of best practices and the strengthening of institutional frameworks are expected to further enhance the efficiency of the resolution process.

Conclusion:

The Indian restructuring and insolvency scenario has undergone a transformative journey, largely driven by the introduction of the IBC. This legislation has not only streamlined the resolution process but has also contributed to a more investor-friendly environment. While challenges remain, the commitment to addressing them, coupled with a proactive approach, positions India as a promising destination for restructuring and insolvency activities, with the potential to play a pivotal role in the country’s economic growth and development.

Insolvency Professional – Meaning, Eligibility & Qualification

Meaning of Insolvency Professional

Insolvency Professionals are enrolled with an Insolvency Agency, and they are involved in the dissolution process of insolvent individuals, companies, LLPs, or partnerships. These professionals are authorized to act on behalf of such insolvent entities.

During a bankruptcy situation, Insolvency Professionals play a vital role in liquidating the entity’s assets and overseeing other settlement processes. This process has gained momentum with the government implementing strict norms through the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Insolvency Professional Agency

Any agency registered with the IBBI under Section 201 of the Insolvency Code, 2016, is referred to as an insolvency professional agency.

The key function of these agencies is to regulate the activities of Insolvency Professionals and ensure their development in the industry. These professional members are required to comply with the terms and conditions specified in the bye-laws of the insolvency agency code. IBBI exercises control over the Insolvency Professional agency and its professionals with respect to the complaints made under Section 217 of the Insolvency Code.

Functions of an Insolvency Professional Agency

The following are the functions of an Insolvency Professional Agency, as specified in Section 204 of the Insolvency Code (effective from 15-11-2016):

  1. The primary function of an Insolvency Professional agency is to grant membership to Insolvency Professionals.
  2. These agencies establish the standards of professional conduct and ethics for the members enrolled under them.
  3. They protect the rights and privileges of the members and safeguard their interests.
  4. They also address member grievances and take steps to resolve them.
  5. The agency continuously monitors members’ performance and can suspend or cancel membership whenever and wherever required.

Eligibility Criteria for Insolvency Professional

An individual is eligible to become an Insolvency Professional provided that he/she:

  • Is an Indian resident and has attained 18 years of age (majority).
  • Is of sound mind and a fit person.
  • Is solvent and has not been declared insolvent.
  • Possesses the required qualifications and experience as specified by the IBBI.
  • Has not been convicted by any competent court/law for an offense punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding six months or for an offense involving moral turpitude, and a period of five years has not elapsed from the date of expiry of the sentence.

Insolvency Professional Qualifications and Experience

To become an Insolvency Professional, any applicant must first register with an Insolvency Professional agency. Listed below are the required qualifications and experience for an applicant to be registered as an Insolvency Professional:

  • Clear the National Insolvency Examination (or)
  • Clear the Limited Insolvency Examination, in which case the applicant should have 15 years of experience in management after receiving a Bachelor’s degree from a university established or recognized by law (or)
  • Has passed the Limited Insolvency Examination and has 10 years of experience as one of the following:
    • A chartered accountant and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (or)
    • A company secretary and is a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (or)
    • A cost accountant and is a member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (or)
    • An advocate enrolled with a Bar Council.

Once these requirements are fulfilled, the applicant can start practicing as an Insolvency Professional.

Functions of an Insolvency Professional

The primary function of an Insolvency Professional is to assess the financial position of the company, partnership, LLPs, individuals, etc., and ensure a smooth process of dissolution. In certain cases, these professionals look for opportunities to rescue businesses. Otherwise, the main functions of an Insolvency Professional are:

  • Analyze the financial statements of the company and understand its position.
  • Make arrangements to sell all the assets of the liquidating individual or company.
  • Understand the receivables position of the company/individual and oversee the collection process.
  • Conduct formal discussions with debtors/creditors and manage their settlement process.
  • Verify and agree on creditors’ claims as per the available funds; this is one of the main duties of Insolvency Professionals.
  • Participate in the fund distribution process after setting aside the necessary funds to pay the cost of liquidation.
  • Deal with other competing interests, if any.

Insolvency Professionals are required to prepare and submit reports to the National Company Law Tribunal with respect to the following:

  • Liquidation plan and process: This must be submitted within 75 days of commencing the process by the Insolvency Professional.
  • Detailed reports on the asset memorandum.
  • Interim reports on how the liquidation process is progressing from time to time.
  • Details about the sale of all the assets.
  • Discussions with debtors and creditors and the conclusions reached.

Final reports prior to the dissolution of the company, partnership, and others.