The Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

PART I N.I. COMPANY INSOLVENCY AND WINDING UP

Administration orders N.I.

1.—(1) Where any right to appoint an administrative receiver of a company is conferred by any debentures or floating charge created before the commencement date, the conditions precedent to the exercise of that right are deemed to include the presentation of a petition applying for an administration order to be made in relation to the company. N.I.

(2) In sub‐paragraph (1) “administrative receiver” has the meaning assigned by Article 5(1).

Receivers and managers N.I.

2.—(1) Parts IV and VII do not apply in relation to any receiver or manager of a company's property who was appointed before the commencement date.

(2) In relation to any such receiver or manager as is mentioned in sub‐paragraph (1) the Companies Order has effect without the amendments and repeals specified in Article 12 and in Schedules 9 and 10.

(3) This paragraph is without prejudice to the power conferred by this Order under which rules under Article 359 may make transitional provision in connection with the coming into operation of those rules; and such provision may apply those rules in relation to the receiver or manager of a company's property notwithstanding that he was appointed before the coming into operation of the rules or Article 359.

Winding up already in progress N.I.

3.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Part, Parts V to VII do not apply in relation to any winding up which has commenced, or is treated as having commenced, before the commencement date. N.I.

(2) In relation to any such winding up as is mentioned in sub‐paragraph (1) the statutory provisions specified in Schedules 9 and 10 have effect without the amendments and repeals specified in Article 13 and in those Schedules.

(3) Where any instrument made under a statutory provision referred to in sub‐paragraph (2) is in operation immediately before the commencement date, that instrument continues to have effect on and after that date in relation to any such winding up as is mentioned in sub‐paragraph (1).

Statement of affairs N.I.

4.—(1) Where a winding up by the High Court has commenced, or is treated as having commenced, before the commencement date, the official receiver or (on appeal from a refusal by him) the Court may, at any time on or after that date—

(a) release a person from an obligation imposed on him by or under Article 489 of the Companies Order (statement of affairs), or

(b) extend the period specified in paragraph (6) of that Article.

(2) Accordingly, on and after the commencement date, Article 489(6) of the Companies Order has effect in relation to a winding up to which this paragraph applies with the omission of the words from “or within” onwards.

Provisions relating to liquidator N.I.

5.—(1) This paragraph applies as regards the liquidator in the case of a winding up by the High Court commenced, or treated as having commenced, before the commencement date.

(2) The official receiver may, at any time when he is liquidator of the company, apply to the Department for the appointment of a liquidator in his (the official receiver's) place; and on any such application the Department shall either make an appointment or decline to make one.

(3) Where immediately before the appointed day the liquidator of the company has not made an application under Article 506 of the Companies Order (release of liquidators), then—

(a) except where the Department otherwise directs, Articles 124(1) and (2) and 146(7) of this Order apply, and Article 508 of the Companies Order does not apply, in relation to any liquidator of that company who holds office on or at any time after the commencement date and is not the official receiver;

(b) Article 124(3) of this Order applies in relation to the carrying out at any time after that date by any liquidator of the company of any of his functions; and

(c) a liquidator in relation to whom Article 146(7) of this Order has effect by virtue of this paragraph has his release with effect from the time specified in Article 148(4)(d) of this Order.

(4) Paragraph (6) of Article 148 of this Order has effect for the purposes of sub‐paragraph (3)(c) as it has for the purposes of that Article, but as if the reference to Article 176 were to Article 584 of the Companies Order.

Saving for power to make rules N.I.

6.  Paragraphs 3 to 5 are without prejudice to the power conferred by this Order under which rules made under Article 359 may make transitional provision in connection with the coming into operation of those rules; and such provision may apply those rules in relation to a winding up notwithstanding that the winding up commenced, or is treated as having commenced, before the coming into operation of the rules or Article 359. N.I.

Setting aside of preferences and other transactions N.I.

7.—(1) Where a provision in Part V of this Order applies in relation to a winding up or in relation to a case in which an administration order has been made, a preference given, floating charge created or other transaction entered into before the commencement date shall not be set aside under that provision except to the extent that it could have been set aside under the law in operation immediately before that date, assuming for this purpose that any relevant administration order had been a winding‐up order. N.I.

(2) The references in sub‐paragraph (1) to setting aside a preference, floating charge or other transaction include the making of an order which varies or reverses any effect of a preference, floating charge or other transaction.