Special administration

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There are a number of special administration regimes (SARs) in the UK which amend the general administration process set out in the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986). These are found in industries where companies carry out a statutory function of a public nature, for example, water or energy, or where there is a wider public interest in having a bespoke administration regime, for example, financial institutions or social housing. The form of these regimes generally follows that set out in IA 1986, but the nature of the industry means that it is appropriate for the administrator to have modified objectives and corresponding powers to achieve those objectives.

Quick guide

For a summary table of SARs that exist in England and Wales, see Practice Note: Special administration regimes—quick guide. This guide also sets out future developments in relation to existing special administration regimes, or proposals for special administration regimes in new areas.

A selection of more detailed materials for particular industry SARs are available as follows.

Energy supply companies

The government introduced a SAR for energy supply companies in the Energy Act 2011 (

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Latest Restructuring & Insolvency News

Insolvency Service reports 11-year director ban for BBL fraud

The Insolvency Service has reported the disqualification of building contractor Tahir Haq from serving as a company director for 11 years, accompanied by mandated compensation payments totalling £58,963 (including interest and costs). Haq obtained a £50,000 bounce back loan (BBL) for Integral Maintenance Team Ltd by overstating his company's turnover by £200,000, despite the company being entitled to only around £3,000. The disqualification, effective from 1 July 2025, prohibits Haq from promoting, forming, or managing any company without prior court approval.

Disputed debt and conversion of members’ voluntary liquidation to creditors’ voluntary liquidation (Noal SCSp and others v Novalpina Capital LLP (in members voluntary liquidation) and others)

Restructuring & Insolvency analysis: This judgment confirms that, if a company in members’ voluntary liquidation (MVL) is unable to pay its debts in full together with interest at the official rate within the period stated in the directors’ declaration made under section 89 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986), then the company must be placed into creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL). There is no solvency test to justify varying this period. The company is already in liquidation and the liquidator has no discretion with regard to having to act under IA 1986, s 95 to convert the MVL to a CVL. Written by Andrew Mace, barrister at Tanfield Chambers.

Issue 168 of Insolvency Service’s Dear IP published

The Insolvency Service reports that the Information Sharing (Disclosure by the Registrar) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/1378), effective from 20 December 2024, will enable the Registrar of Companies to disclose non-public information to insolvency practitioners (IPs) and The Financial Conduct Authority has published updated guidance (FG25/2) for IPs handling regulated firms, incorporating Consumer Duty requirements. Following the Pindar Scarborough Ltd (in Administration) [2024] EWHC 908 and Boughey & Anor v Toogood International Transport and Agricultural Service Ltd (in administration) [2024] EWHC 1425 court judgments, the Insolvency Service has revised its interpretation of 'creditor' status in terms of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986), adopting a context-specific approach rather than maintaining its previous fixed-point definition.

The Supreme Court tweaks Etridge (Waller Edwards v One Savings Bank plc)

Property Disputes analysis: English property law periodically produces epoch-making decisions of the highest court. In years to come, Waller Edwards v One Savings Bank plc may well become such a decision. It enjoys the respectable jurisprudential lineage of three famous House of Lords’ decisions: Barclays Bank v O’Brien, CIBC Mortgages v Pitt, and Royal Bank of Scotland v Etridge, but it also applies established principles in a novel way. Written by Marc Beaumont, Windsor Chambers.

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