Applying For A CVA (Company Voluntary Arrangement)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 5:04In the past, if a business was insolvent and didn’t have enough money or assets to pay its debts, there was little alternative to the company going into receivership, or liquidating the business to repay the creditors. However, these days, the government and the banks are keen to try and help companies in trouble, and a Company Voluntary Arrangement may provide a better solution to debt problems, and help more businesses to survive.
For many companies, there are a number of benefits to choosing a Company Voluntary Arrangement as the way to resolve their debt issues. This formal arrangement covers the amount of debt that is to be repaid and the length of time it will take to repay it, and can be the best solution for all parties, as long as terms of the Arrangement are adhered to.
Company Voluntary Arrangements are often the preferred option for businesses in trouble, because they will still be able to operate, as long as they comply with the terms of the CVA. How much money they have to repay could also be less than the full debt, and the CVA is a better option for creditors than liquidation, where they might actually recoup a significantly smaller amount of the money owed to them. A Company Voluntary Arrangement also means there will be no additional action taken by creditors to recover their money, as long as the company meets the terms of the Arrangement. A CVA is also a much less expensive than if the company chose to go into Receivership or Administration.
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.
While many businesses might see Company Voluntary Arrangements as a last resort, they are usually a much better alternative for companies and creditors, than Receivership or Liquidation. CVAs are designed to give companies some protection while they rebuild their business, and at the same time, make sure that creditors receive a reasonable amount of the debt that is owed to them. You should always get advice on problems with business debt, and whether a CVA may be the appropriate solution, as soon as you possible, to make sure you can take advantage of all the options available to you.


