Insolvency Act 1986, section 3

Consideration of proposal

Part I Company Voluntary Arrangements

(1)Where the nominee under section 1 is not the liquidator or administrator, and it has been report to the court [F18under section 2(2) that the proposal should be considered by a meeting of the company and by the company's creditorsF18] , the person making the report shall (unless the court otherwise [F19directs)—

(a)summon a meeting of the company to consider the proposal for the time, date and place proposed in the report, and

(b)seek a decision from the company's creditors as to whether they approve the proposal.F19]

(2)Where the nominee is the liquidator or administrator, he [F20shall—

(a)summon a meeting of the company to consider the proposal for such time, date and place as he thinks fit, and

(b)seek a decision from the company's creditors as to whether they approve the proposal.F20]

[F21 (3)A decision of the company's creditors as to whether they approve the proposal is to be made by a qualifying decision procedure.

(4)Notice of the qualifying decision procedure must be given to every creditor of the company of whose claim and address the person seeking the decision is aware.F21]

Definitions used in section 3 3

administrator

1 (1) For the purposes of this Act “administrator” of a company means a person appointed under this Schedule to manage the company’s affairs, business and property.

Defined in Sch.B1 para.1(1) · see it in the full Act
the company

2 Section 233B does not apply in relation to a contract for the supply of goods or services to a company (“the company”) where any of paragraphs 3 to 11 applies.

Defined in Sch.4ZZA para.2 · see it in the full Act
company

(4) In this Part “company” means—

(a)a company registered under the Companies Act 2006 in England and Wales or Scotland;

(b)a company incorporated in an EEA State ...; or

(c)a company not incorporated in an EEA State but having its centre of main interests in a member State (other than Denmark) or in the United Kingdom .

Defined in s.1(4) · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 3 9

Re T & N Ltd

[2006] EWHC 842 (Ch) · 12 April 2006Interprets

Applies the requirement that the nominee or administrator summon company and creditor meetings at a suitable time, date and place. (see paras [14], [25]) Interprets the duty to notify every creditor whose claim and address are known, including foreign creditors and creditors identified from relevant records. (see paras [20], [25], [40], [42])

Thomas v Ken Thomas Ltd

[2006] EWCA Civ 1504 · 9 October 2006

The court referred to this provision as governing creditors’ meetings within the statutory company voluntary arrangement process. (see paras [31]-[32])

Inland Revenue v Wimbledon Football Club Ltd & Ors Rev 2

[2004] EWCA Civ 655 · 28 May 2004

The court referred to the meeting provisions to identify the statutory approval process for a voluntary arrangement. (see para [27]) The court noted the administrator’s duty to summon company and creditor meetings to consider the proposal. (see para [27])

What each judgment says about section 3 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

8 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F17S. 3 heading substituted (26.5.2015 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 for E.W. in so far as not already in force, 6.4.2019 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), s. 164(1), Sch. 9 para. 3(5); S.I. 2015/1329, reg. 3(d); S.I. 2016/1020, reg. 4(e) (with reg. 5) (as amended by S.I. 2017/363, reg. 3); S.I. 2019/816, reg. 4(c) (with reg. 5)
  2. F18Words in s. 3(1) substituted (26.5.2015 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 for E.W. in so far as not already in force, 6.4.2019 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), s. 164(1), Sch. 9 para. 3(2)(a); S.I. 2015/1329, reg. 3(d); S.I. 2016/1020, reg. 4(e) (with reg. 5) (as amended by S.I. 2017/363, reg. 3); S.I. 2019/816, reg. 4(c) (with reg. 5)
  3. F19Words in s. 3(1) substituted (26.5.2015 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 for E.W. in so far as not already in force, 6.4.2019 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), s. 164(1), Sch. 9 para. 3(2)(b); S.I. 2015/1329, reg. 3(d); S.I. 2016/1020, reg. 4(e) (with reg. 5) (as amended by S.I. 2017/363, reg. 3); S.I. 2019/816, reg. 4(c) (with reg. 5)
  4. F20Words in s. 3(2) substituted (26.5.2015 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 for E.W. in so far as not already in force, 6.4.2019 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), s. 164(1), Sch. 9 para. 3(3); S.I. 2015/1329, reg. 3(d); S.I. 2016/1020, reg. 4(e) (with reg. 5) (as amended by S.I. 2017/363, reg. 3); S.I. 2019/816, reg. 4(c) (with reg. 5)
  5. F21S. 3(3)(4) substituted for s. 3(3) (26.5.2015 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 for E.W. in so far as not already in force, 6.4.2019 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), s. 164(1), Sch. 9 para. 3(4); S.I. 2015/1329, reg. 3(d); S.I. 2016/1020, reg. 4(e) (with reg. 5) (as amended by S.I. 2017/363, reg. 3); S.I. 2019/816, reg. 4(c) (with reg. 5)

Modifications

  1. C92Ss. 1-7B applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (15.3.2024) by The Water Industry (Special Administration) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/205), regs. 2(2), 5(1), 43-45 (with reg. 64)
  2. C93Ss. 2-6 applied (with modifications) by 2009 c. 1, s. 154(3A) (as inserted (13.3.2018) by The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (Consequential Amendments, Savings and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/208), regs. 1(3), 5(6)(c))
  3. C94S. 3 modified (E.W.) (31.1.2019) by The Further Education Bodies (Insolvency) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/138), regs. 1(1), 5 (with regs. 1(2), 3(a)(i))