Running a business can be a challenge at the best of times, but with increased competition in most markets, and the recession meaning people are spending less, it can be even harder to keep a business afloat – particularly if debts are mounting up. Once a business becomes insolvent, it has to take action. A Company Voluntary Arrangement could be the best way of resolving issues with creditors, while allowing the business to continue trading.
A Company Voluntary Arrangement is a formal arrangement between a business and it’s creditors. It sets out how the debts are to be repaid, whether in part or in full, and over how long the repayment will take place. Once agreed, there are a number of benefits to a company of having a CVA in place, as long as they stick to the terms of the arrangement.
A Company Voluntary Arrangement allows the company to keep trading, while it is protected from any further action by its creditors to recover the money they are owed. This is the case for as long as the business keeps to the terms of an agreed CVA. CVAs are less expensive, and make debt-repayment easier for a business to manage, than if the company went into Administration or Receivership. Creditors also prefer Company Voluntary Arrangement to possible Liquidation, as they are likely to get more of their money back, even though the business may actually be able to reduce the debt it owes by agreeing a CVA.
A Company Voluntary Arrangement can’t come into force, unless it’s been agreed by at least 75% of the people who are owed money. Anything less than this means a company in debt will still be under threat of action from creditors in the future. Once three quarters of creditors agree to the arrangement, it binds all creditors to the debt repayment proposal in the CVA. Businesses need to ensure their repayment proposal is as fair as possible, to give the CVA the best chance of being accepted, as well as providing their business with the best chance of making a financial recovery.
If your company is struggling with debt, and you think a Company Voluntary Arrangement could help you to turn your business around, it’s important you get advice from a qualified insolvency practitioner, sooner rather than later. They can advise you on CVAs as an alternative to Liquidation or Receivership, and help you work out a proposal that your creditors will agree to. Once you have the protection of a CVA in place, you can concentrate on building your business back up without the threat of any more action from your creditors.
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