Ben Sewell

2021 introduced sweeping changes to Australia’s corporate insolvency laws with the introduction of the Small Business Restructuring Process (SBRP) under Part 5.3B of the Corporations Act. This innovative restructuring process aims to give struggling small businesses a lifeline by enabling them to restructure their debts and bounce back more resiliently whilst leaving directors in control of their own business. This blog post explores the key hurdles to qualification for restructuring under the SBRP. 

The introduction of the Small Business Restructuring Process in the Corporations Act has marked a significant shift in Australia’s approach towards company restructuring. Essentially, it moves towards a debtor-in-possession model, a concept that might appear foreign within the traditional creditor-in-possession system of Australia. Understanding why this change has occurred and its implications is critical for businesses navigating restructuring scenarios.

Small business restructuring is a complex process that entails two levels of professional fees. However, compared to other forms of external administration, the pricing for restructuring is more straightforward and generally lower. In this blog post, we will explore the different types of fees involved in the Small Business Restructuring Process (SBRP) and shed light on the factors that determine their amounts. Additionally, we will discuss the role of third-party professionals and the potential need for their services to support the small business restructuring process.

Accounting records play a vital role in any business, serving as the foundation for financial reporting, decision-making, and compliance. As a business prepares for a Small Business Restructuring Plan (SBRP), it is crucial to ensure that its accounting records are accurate, complete, and well-organized. In this blog post, we provide a comprehensive checklist to help an insolvent company to review and assess its accounting records before initiating an SBRP.

The Small Business Restructuring Process (SBRP) was introduced in Australia in 2021 as a streamlined process for insolvent small businesses. The objective of the process is to allow small businesses to put a restructuring plan proposal to creditors without losing control of their business.