INSOLVENCY RULES 1986
EXTRACT OF RULE 5.23 CONCERNING REQUISITE MAJORITIES
FOR VOTING AT A MEETING OF CREDITORS
5.23(1) (Three-quarters majority) Subject as follows, at the creditors’ meeting for any resolution to pass
approving any proposal or modifications there must be a majority in excess of three-quarters in value of the
creditors present in person or by proxy and voting on the resolution.
5.23(2) (One-half majority) the same applies in respect of any other resolution proposed at the meeting, but
substituting one-half for three-quarters.
5.23(3) (Votes to be left out of account) In the following cases there is to be left out of account a creditor’s vote in
respect of any claim or part of a claim –
(a) where written notice of the claim was not given, either at the meeting or before it, to the chairman
or the nominee;
(b) where the claim or part is secured;
(c) where the claim is in respect of a debt wholly or partly on, or secured by, a current bill of exchange
or promissory note, unless the creditor is willing –
(i) to treat the liability to him on the bill or note of every person who is liable on it
antecedently to the debtor, and against whom a bankruptcy order has not been made (or, in
the case of a company, which has not gone into liquidation), as a security in his hands,
and
(ii) to estimate the value of the security and (for the purpose of entitlement to vote, but not of
any distribution under the arrangement) to deduct it from his claim.
5.23(4) (Votes rendering resolution invalid) Any resolution is invalid if those voting against it include more than
half in value of the creditors, counting in these latter only those –
(a) who have notice of meeting;
(b) whose votes are not to be left out of account under paragraph (3); and
(c) who are not, to the best of the chairman’s belief, associates of the debtor.
5.23(5) (Chairman’s powers) It is for the chairman of the meeting to decide whether under this Rule -
(a) a vote is to be left out of account in accordance with paragraph (3), or
(b) a person is an associate of the debtor for the purposes of paragraph (4)(c);
and in relation to the second of these cases the chairman is entitled to rely on the information provided by
the debtor’s statement of affairs or otherwise in accordance with this Part of the Rules.
5.23(6) (Chairman’s use of proxy) If the chairman uses a proxy contrary to Rule 5.20, his vote with that proxy
does not count towards any majority under this Rule.
5.23(7) (Chairman’s decision subject to appeal) The chairman’s decision on any matter under this Rule is subject
to appeal to the court by any creditor or by the debtor and paragraphs (5) to (7) of Rule 5.22 apply as regards
such an appeal.
