INSOL Europe/LexisNexis COVID-19 Tracker of Insolvency Reforms—Poland

Measures to combat the economic effects of coronavirus have been introduced in phases and are commonly referred to as ‘Anti-Crisis Shield 1.0’ (Parliamentary Act of 2 March 2020 on special solutions associated with preventing, counteracting and combating coronavirus, other contagious diseases and crisis situations they precipitate and certain other acts, which entered into force on 8 March 2020, and amendments on 31 March 2020; Parliamentary Act of 31 March 2020 amending the Act on special solutions associated with preventing, counteracting and combating coronavirus, other contagious diseases and crisis situations they precipitate and certain other acts) and further amended and supplemented by ‘Anti-Crisis Shield 2.0’ (Parliamentary Act of 16 April 2020 on specific support instruments in connection with the spread of the virus SARS-CoV-2, which entered into force on 18 April 2020). Further changes to these acts are expected in due time.

Measures adopted to combat the crisis are wide-ranging and sometimes very detailed. They range from measures addressed to specific industries that are most affected, to measures aimed at the judiciary (courts and proceedings) and SMEs etc. They also tackle liquidity issues, employment and social security matters (loans and release from payment of health insurance contributions, etc.). In addition, they affect insolvency laws—the Restructuring Law of 15 May 2015 (RL) and the Bankruptcy Law of 28 February 2003 (BL).

There are two general exceptions, where the above will not apply to entrepreneurs:

For entrepreneurs regarding which motions for the opening of bankruptcy proceedings have been filed or/and one of the types of restructuring proceedings has been opened, the procedure for granting support is suspended until a final (non-appealable) ruling is issued in the case.

The BL requires a debtor or a debtor’s representative to file a motion with a court for the declaration of bankruptcy within 30 days from the time an entrepreneur becomes insolvent. The term ‘insolvent’ has a statutory definition (Article. 11(1) and (2) BL: (1) A debtor is considered insolvent if they are no longer able to pay their debts as they fall due. 2. A debtor who is a legal person or an organisational unit without legal personality that is granted legal capacity by a separate act of law is also considered insolvent when their debts exceed the value of their assets and this state of affairs persists for a period longer than twenty-four months. (…). This definition of ‘insolvency’ entails a cash flow test and, as a separate basis—an over indebtedness test.

When the state of epidemiological threat or epidemic comes to an end, the 30-day deadline for filing a petition for bankruptcy recommences.

Two general principles affecting the judiciary and legal proceedings before courts have been introduced. As a general rule, procedural and judicial time limits do not commence, and those already underway are suspended for the duration of the state of epidemiological threat or epidemic due to coronavirus. This solution essentially applies to all proceedings (with some exceptions, including proceedings related to coronavirus measures; Article 15zzs and 15zzt of Anti-Crisis Shield 1.0). Also, time limits in substantive civil and administrative law do not commence, and those already commenced are suspended for the duration of the state of epidemiological threat or epidemic due to coronavirus.

Considering the above limitations, where courts have stopped performing their functions, under Anti-Crisis Shield 1.0, in special situations, urgent matters will be continued or dealt with. Further, Anti-Crisis Shield 1.0 regulates the possibility of moving cases to an appropriate court (when the original cannot function) to handle a case, to transfer court files to that court, and also to qualify a given case as an urgent one.

Among other things, Anti-Crisis Shield 1.0 establishes conditions under which entrepreneurs can obtain financial support to cover remuneration and other payments due to employees, and persons working under other types of agreements and providing services can obtain financial assistance in order to cover costs of self-employed business activity.

One of the requirements/conditions to apply for such support is the making of a representation by the entrepreneur that no grounds exist for that entrepreneur to be declared bankrupt. This implies that an entrepreneur cannot be insolvent when the filing for support is made.

At the time of writing, there are already advanced discussions about the implementation of Anti-Crisis Shield 3.0. The Polish legislator is also working on the transposition of EU Directive (EU) 2019/1023 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on preventive restructuring frameworks (see Practice Note: Harmonising insolvencies and restructurings across Europe).

A tracker of insolvency reforms globally produced by Lexis Nexis in partnership with INSOL Europe is now available: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tracker of insolvency reforms globally.