How to close a company with a Bounce Back Loan
Author
Shaun Barton | Company Closure Expert
Last Updated:
How to close a company with a Bounce Back Loan
If your company is insolvent but has an outstanding Bounce Back Loan, you may be wondering how you can close it down. A formal insolvency process called Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) facilitates the closure of companies with outstanding debts and provides reassurance that you’re following the statutory requirements.
You’ll need to stop trading as soon as you know you’re insolvent and appoint a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP) to conduct the process. CVL does offer some control for directors, however, as you can decide when you want to place your company into liquidation.
What are the implications of closing a company with a Bounce Back Loan?
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) provided much-needed financial support to businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s a flexible scheme that’s been extended to allow businesses to repay over a longer term, but economic difficulties have led to many insolvent liquidations with outstanding Bounce Back Loans.
One of the major benefits of the scheme was the unsecured nature of Bounce Back Loans so unless you’ve provided personal guarantees for other business loans, you won’t be personally liable to repay the BBL.
So how do you close your company when it has an outstanding loan of this type?
Using voluntary liquidation to close a company with a Bounce Back Loan
The appointed insolvency practitioner will sell your company assets at auction to generate funds for creditors. It’s typically the case that these funds don’t repay all of a business’s debts, however, and any remaining – including the Bounce Back Loan – will be written off.
Once the IP has completed the procedure the company will then close down permanently and be removed from the Companies House register. Unless any instances of misconduct or fraud are found – such as obtaining the Bounce Back Loan fraudulently – you’ll be free to start a new venture or perhaps move into employment.
Are there any other alternatives to CVL?
Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation is the process for insolvent businesses to close down. There is a procedure called voluntary dissolution but this is only appropriate for solvent businesses.
If you attempt to voluntarily dissolve the company when it’s insolvent you’re likely to face investigation by the Insolvency Service as a creditor can challenge your application. This can lead to serious repercussions, including personal liability.
Considerations when closing a company with a Bounce Back Loan
- Your conduct as a director will be investigated, but voluntarily placing your company into liquidation lowers the likelihood of misconduct allegations being made
- You may be able to claim redundancy pay as a director by following the CVL route, even though the company’s debts are written off
- It’s important not to wait for a creditor to forcibly wind up the company, as this can also lead to disqualification and personal liability
Company Closure can help you close down your company if it has an outstanding Bounce Back Loan or any other unmanageable debts. We offer free consultations and operate a broad network of offices around the UK.
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