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Posts Tagged ‘winding up order’

Untangling a complex web takes skill

Sunday, October 30th, 2011

Personal debt can be difficult to deal with. Many individuals are obliged to seek help from trained debt advisors when they try to get their financial affairs in order. However, they can use free services and the issues they get help with do not generally get as complicated as those affecting firms with financial difficulties. Business debt analysis has to cope with a wider range of problems and the level of complexity is frequently high.

At Cooper Matthews we recognise the complexity of debts accrued by running businesses. We have the necessary expertise to help companies which find themselves in the mire.

It is of critical importance that distressed organisations seek advice promptly. Permitting complex financial arrangements to develop in an unhealthy direction is not a wise move. Creditors can seek to impose a winding up order even if the money owed is not all that considerable. To avoid a potentially disastrous winding up petition, employing a firm which uses qualified sector-specialist insolvency practitioners is an astute step to take.

Debts which firms owe can be complicated by the way in which the money was raised. Some debts might have property attached to them and a potential repossession must be stopped from happening. Other debt may be complex because it is owed to a diversity of firms.

Businesses can be in debt because of late payments or because they have not made enough capital to cover costs. It is also the case that not every company has the assets to cover a debt while others have; it can be tricky to work this out.

Monitoring and prompt action works

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

When a business is in a degree of trouble, it can distract those responsible for it from being vigilant. Sometimes individuals react to mounting pressure by working harder instead of working smarter. They can suffer from serious stress and may be very reluctant to talk about their difficulties. Such a response is understandable, but it is not the most effective way of turning things around.

At Cooper Matthews we have a lot of experience and know those directors who seek assistance from business debt services relatively early give themselves and their firms a better chance of coping than those who procrastinate.

It is not easy to be calm when the loss of a business is a possibility. Years of hard work are at stake. It is also common to deny the reality of the situation. It is hard to accept that something which might have been a brilliant idea might not have proven to be quite so brilliant in practice.

If action is taken in good time then salvaging the situation is more likely than if debts are permitted to stack up for whatever reason. It is critical to be decisive. By getting the right help at the right time, company recovery may be on the cards. Avoiding a winding up order may be the first step in the road back to eventual prosperity.

Many now successful firms have flirted with disaster. It is imperative not to be fatalistic or deluded when times are very tough. It can be tricky to do the right thing, but not doing it usually has worse consequences.

Alternatives to bankruptcy

Saturday, September 24th, 2011

When a business is in a very difficult financial situation, it is easy for directors to feel that they have no choices left. It is a bit like in personal debt cases where an individual mistakenly feels that there is no alternative to bankruptcy. The common factor is that emotions have entered the decision-making process. It can take someone independent to point out that various options remain.

At Cooper Matthews we are aware that when a company is performing disappointingly things can seem very bleak indeed. Nonetheless, it is inadvisable to throw in the towel when other things can be done and should be reflected on. It could be that a new firm could be formed from the old one, or less drastic measures may be possible.

Certainly, when a business is thriving it has more options than when it is in a distressed state. This is simply because it has much more market power. However, in many cases a company with serious business debt retains the capacity to shape its own future. Nothing will be easy, but there is no reason to surrender and meekly receive a winding up order.

It can be tricky to work out which choices are viable. When you have worked very hard and are emotionally involved in the progress of a firm, it can be hard to distinguish ways out of the mire. In contrast, an experienced insolvency practitioner can often spot ways out of the trouble. A winding up petition is not necessarily on the cards.

business debt, winding up order, winding up petition

Deal with business debt before it is too late

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

When a company is in financial distress, it does have to deal with its debts with some urgency. The consequences of inaction can be severe. Amongst other things, directors can find themselves liable for company debts. A winding up petition is a serious matter and can be triggered by a creditor who is owed just £750.

At Cooper Matthews we have considerable experience and expertise at dealing with the financial dilemmas of businesses. Many of the firms we have assisted have gone on to have prosperous futures. When an organisation is struggling with debt, it always makes commercial sense for them to seek help fast.

In today’s complex and unpredictable economic climate, many businesses are finding it hard to keep going. It is important that everybody knows some details about the possible implications of a winding up order. It can lead to a situation where bank accounts are frozen and the Insolvency Act of 1986 stipulates that trading without the permission of the court can be prohibited.

When a business is not prospering, it is easy to become demoralised. Some individuals are so disappointed by their misfortune that they move towards negative outcomes without thinking about all their diverse options. Specialist advice must be obtained as soon as possible.

The fate of a business is affected by a myriad of things and it is not possible to influence all of them. However, even when prospects seem poor it is worth persevering in an informed way. If a company cannot be revived, it may be feasible for the worst case scenarios to be avoided.

business debt, winding up petition, winding up order

How We Can Stop Your Business From Winding Up

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Our approach is different. Where possible, we will always first try to keep your business from winding up. Saving a good business with the potential growth and success is our priority, so we will offer you aid in deciding what will work best in your situation. We always work with you on a personal level to make sure that only the most accurate advice is offered, no matter what the company financial trouble is.

In a time of economic hardship, it’s becoming harder and harder for small businesses to stay open. Cash flow tends to be low, and debts are more and more common. But local small businesses are vital to the recovery of our economy.

Our founding director, Derek Cooper, has 10 years of experience in corporate insolvency, 20 years experience in business management, and is a member of the Turnaround Management Association UK.

To get more of an idea on how we can help, try some of our business debt tools, or review some of the case studies including CVA, admin orders, Phoenixing, and liquidation cases.

We want to help you help your business. We will do all in our power to help you ge4t back on your feet to avoid the business winding up. However, if there is no way to save the business, we will be there for you to help you through the liquidation process. When you need a helping hand, and someone to help you understand every aspect of what’s happening, Cooper Matthews can help.

A Validation Order Could Ease Creditors and Pending Winding Up Petitions

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

If you’re currently under the yoke of a Winding up petition from any of your creditors, our business debt services could still pull something out of the hat at the last minute. Winding up petitions are commonly implemented against Limited companies with business creditor problems. The creditor then petitions to the Local or High Court for the in-debt company to be forced into liquidation.

Winding up petitions are a serious issue, but they’re not in themselves the final nail in the coffin. It may still be possible for your company to unfreeze bank accounts and allow sale of assets via a validation order.

A validation order would be granted to your company by the Courts if you can prove that financial access to your company accounts and assets would be in the best interest of the creditor. For example, perhaps the sale of certain assets would allow complete or partial repayment of the debt. Or maybe the selling of assets combined with payment of workforce to allow completion of a contracted order would create enough capital to pay the petitioning creditor.

If you’d like advice concerning application for a validation order, handling business creditor problems or any of our other business debt related services, take a look through our comprehensive online guides and fill in an online enquiry form. Or, for a more personal touch, contact us today on 0800 8404042 to speak to one of our skilled team.

Cooper Matthews Now Providing No Fee CVA

Friday, December 17th, 2010

Leeds, United Kingdom (17 December 2010) – Cooper Matthews are now offering Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) services with no fee upfront.

A CVA is a legal arrangement between a company and its creditors, which involves the company repaying a fixed amount that is lower than its actual outstanding debt. The repayments are calculated monthly, based on what the business can reasonably afford. Any remaining debt is written off at the end of the agreement, with typically around 45% of business debt being cancelled during the course of a CVA.

CVAs could be an ideal solution for organisations that are suffering with company cash flow problems and coming under pressure from creditors, but whose directors believe they still have a viable future should they be able to navigate through these rough waters. A CVA can also be preferable for creditors, as what a company can afford to pay often amounts to significantly more than what would be received if that company were to go into liquidation.

Cooper Matthews are able to provide initial consultations free of charge, which in most cases will involve a review of the business to establish its full financial state and identify possible solutions. Should it be decided that a CVA is the best option, future insolvency practitioner fees will be deducted from the pre-agreed standard payments, thus making it very rare that directors will need to find additional money beyond the company’s limit.

“By providing CVAs without any upfront payment, we hope to encourage more businesses experiencing financial difficulties to consider a company voluntary agreement as a viable solution to their problems”, commented a spokesperson for Cooper Matthews. “CVAs are designed to allow directors to continue running their business as normal, with a view to improving their position with creditors, prevent court action or a winding up order, and ease cash flow pressures by allowing businesses to continue to trade.”

For more information about Cooper Matthews and the CVA services they provide, telephone 0800 8 40 40 42.