Deficiencies in the assets
75.—(1) If, in the case of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme, the value at the applicable time of the assets of the scheme is less than the amount at that time of the liabilities of the scheme, an amount equal to the difference shall be treated as a debt due from the employer to the trustees or managers of the scheme.
(2) If in the case of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme—
(a)a relevant insolvency event occurs in relation to the employer, and
(b)a debt due from the employer under paragraph (1) has not been discharged at the time that event occurs,
the debt in question shall be taken, for the purposes of the law relating to winding up or bankruptcy as it applies in relation to the employer, to arise immediately before that time.
(3) In this Article, “the applicable time” means—
(a)if the scheme is being wound up before a relevant insolvency event occurs in relation to the employer, any time when it is being wound up before such an event occurs, and
(b)otherwise, immediately before the relevant insolvency event occurs.
(4) For the purposes of this Article a relevant insolvency event occurs in relation to the employer—
(a)where the employer is a company, when it goes into liquidation, within the meaning of Article 6(2) of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989(1), or
(b)where the employer is an individual, at the commencement of his bankruptcy, within the meaning of Article 252 of that Order.
(5) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the liabilities and assets to be taken into account, and their amount or value, must be determined, calculated and verified by a prescribed person and in the prescribed manner.
(6) In calculating the value of any liabilities for those purposes, a provision of the scheme which limits the amount of its liabilities by reference to the amount of its assets is to be disregarded.
(7) This Article does not prejudice any other right or remedy which the trustees or managers may have in respect of a deficiency in the scheme’s assets.
(8) A debt due by virtue only of this Article shall not be regarded as a preferential debt for the purposes of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989(2).
(9) This Article does not apply to an occupational pension scheme falling within a prescribed class or description.
(10) Regulations may modify this Article as it applies in prescribed circumstances.