IBBI mandates fortnightly status reports
from liquidators on delayed liquidation processes
Insolvency
regulator IBBI has now made it mandatory for liquidators to present fortnightly
progress or status reports that would spell out the reasons for not completing
the liquidation process within the stipulated period of 90 days or 270 days.
It
has for this amended its existing regulations on voluntary liquidations.
If
the liquidator fails to liquidate the corporate person within the stipulated
period of 90 days or 270 days as the case may be, he shall hold a meeting of
contributors of the corporate person and present a status report within fifteen
days from the end of such period and thereafter, at the end of every such
succeeding period, specifying the reasons for not completing the process within
the stipulated time period and apprise the meeting about additional time
required for completing the process , IBBI has said.
The
requirement of submission of progress reports every fortnight beyond the
statutory timelines is expected to drive efficiency in the entire process
through better monitoring, say experts.
Hari
Hara Mishra, CEO, Association of ARCs in India said that the single largest
challenge facing Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) processes is adherence to
timelines.
It
is in this context, a fortnightly progress report will serve as constant
reminder, as time overrun is seen in 63 percent of voluntary liquidations ,
Mishra told businessline.
In
another measure,IBBI has also stipulated that the directors of the corporate
person while initiating the voluntary liquidation process should disclose
pending proceedings or assessments before statutory authorities, and pending
litigations.
They
would also be required to declare that sufficient provision has been made to
meet the likely obligations arising, if any, on account of the pending
proceedings, IBBI has said.
Also,
in the period after submission of final report but before a corporate person is
dissolved, stakeholders claiming entitlement to funds in the Corporate
Voluntary Liquidation Account can apply to the liquidator for withdrawal.
Upon
receiving such a request, the liquidator should verify the claim and request
the Board to release the funds to him/her for onward distribution, the IBBI has
said.
Mishra
said that Payment of claims after submission of the final report without
waiting for dissolution will help small entities, which constitute the
majority of voluntary liquidations, put resources for alternate
uses. Ease of doing business includes ease of exiting business,
which these changes intend to facilitate , he added.
www.thehindubusinessline.com
dt. 12-02-2024