The latest edition of the Sector and Insolvency Review takes a look at the insolvency market in 2012, comments on the market as a whole since 2009 and provides an insight into our expectations for 2013.

1. Sector and Insolvency
Review 2012

2. 2 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

3. Snapshot Contents
of 2012
22,332 UK companies entered into an
insolvency process in 2012 (2% drop compared
This newsletter has been produced by RSM Tenon to provide
to 2011).
an insight into the insolvency market in 2012 – the statistics,
Since 2009 the average number of the trends, the sectors at high risk and RSM Tenon’s expert
insolvent businesses per quarter is 5,890.
opinion on what is going to happen in 2013.
There were 90 corporate insolvencies per
working day in 2012.
210,000 companies are currently at a high 03 Snapshot of 2012 Sector Insolvency Review
risk of insolvency, an increase of 2.7% 04 Overview by Chris Ratten, 13 Sectors with the highest risk of
compared to 2011. This equates to 9% of Head of Restructuring insolvency
total companies.
13 Factors which could cause an increase
Sector most at risk in 2013: Construction with Corporate Insolvency Review in UK Insolvencies In 2013
3,225 companies.
06 Total Insolvencies since 2009 14 Sector expectation 2013
Sectors showing highest signs of distress:
06 Total corporate insolvencies by type Personal Insolvency Review
37% Furniture Manufacturers; 29%
Textile Manufacturers; 23% Printing and 07 Insolvency Procedures at a glance
16 Annual Personal Insolvencies
Publishing. 07 The Top 20 Charge holders
16 Personal Insolvency comparison graph
Region with the largest increase in insolvencies 08 The sectors with the highest number in England and Wales 2006 - 2012
in 2012 compared to 2011 – North East with 15%. of company failures in 2012
17 Personal Insolvencies by Age Group in
112,807 personal insolvencies in England and 09 Sector Review England and Wales (2012)
Wales in 2012. 453 people per day in 2012. 11 Sector Trends 18 Personal Insolvencies by Region
Increases to 131,400 if we include Scotland
(estimate) and 528 per working day. 11 Total Number of Insolvencies by Region 19 Scotland Personal Insolvencies
North West had the largest number of personal 12 Corporate Insolvency Expectations 20 Personal Insolvency Expectations
insolvencies in England and Wales in 2012 for 2013 for 2013
(14,961 in total) but Scotland had over 18,000.
43% of personal insolvencies were an IVA,
which is the same level as 2011.
Our online Tracker system provided the data
for this newsletter. Tracker uses a variety
of data sources including all registered UK
companies, Mortgages and Charges, CCJ’s,
Administration Orders and the Personal
Insolvency register.
To find out more about how Tracker can
support your business, visit:
www.tracker-online.com, email us at
sales@tracker-online.com or contact us
on 0207 448 7725.
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4. Overview
Corporate Insolvencies If exporting is to provide the economic boost that the Government
expects, more will have to be done to support SMEs in finding new
There is no denying it, 2012 was a tough year in the restructuring and markets and provide more guidance on how to export successfully.
insolvency market. At the start of the recession I think most of us
within the profession expected a flood of enquiries from banks and Outside London (5,233 insolvencies), the North West had the largest
accountants who had clients showing significant signs of distress. volume of insolvencies with 3,108 (14 per cent of total corporate
However, it just didn’t happen. In fact the insolvency market actually insolvencies) followed by Yorkshire (2,500, 11 per cent) and South East
shrank by 17% when compared to 2009 and we don’t expect it to (2419, 11 per cent).
actually increase again until 2014 and beyond. There have been no significant surprises as to the sectors experiencing
The main reasons are, banks and other funders, increasingly conscious the highest failure rates. Business Services represented 25 per cent,
of bad debt and public relation issues are being more lenient and willing Construction 17 per cent, Hospitality and Leisure 9 per cent, Public
to give companies more time to turn their business around, interest Services 8 per cent, Property 8 per cent and Retail 7 per cent.
rates have remained low i.e. unchanged since quarter 2 2008 and
Personal Insolvencies
businesses are just doing enough to teeter on the edge and survive
by cost cutting, being cautious and not investing. Despite the lack The volume of personal insolvencies in 2012 only reached 112,000
of insolvencies, Tracker, our online monitoring system confirms that proving that this insolvency market is still witnessing a downward
over 210,000 businesses at the end of December 2012 were showing trend. Last year was the lowest figure since 2008 (106,000) and 7 per
significant signs of financial distress. That’s 9 per cent of total cent lower than 2011 (119,941). Both quarter 2 and 4 in 2012 (27,390 and
companies in the UK. 27,948 respectively) were the lowest quarters since quarter 3 2008
(27,448) and bankruptcies were the lowest they have been since quarter
In 2009 the volume of insolvencies was approximately 27,000; however
4 2003 (6,940).
in 2012 the level was down to 22,000, a drop of 17 per cent during the
three year period. Even though there has been a drop, SMEs should not The most popular solution continues to be an Individual Voluntary
become complacent and take their eye off the ball. I think that there Arrangement in England and Wales with 43 per cent of total personal
will be no significant economic growth for some time, so it is vital for insolvencies. However, when reviewing the personal insolvency
businesses to regularly monitor their management information and solutions against the figures, both Individual Voluntary Arrangements
react accordingly as the market changes. and Bankruptcies have reduced compared to the same period in 2011, a
decline of 2 per cent and 23 per cent respectively. Debt Relief Orders,
It is pleasing to see that in 2012 we received more enquiries from
an insolvency solution for people with low levels of debt, actually
owners wishing to restructure their business through cost reductions,
increased by 9 per cent from 29,016 in 2011 to 31,699 in 2012.
improved working capital management and additional funding, so
they put themselves in a better position when the recovery happens. The regions with the largest number of personal insolvencies when
Our advice following a review can sometimes be complex, but often it reviewing the figures as a whole in 2012 were Scotland (15 per cent),
involves some simple and practical common sense cash flow measures, North West (12 per cent), South East (11 per cent) and South West (10 per
such as prompt invoicing, timely and effective chasing of those invoices cent). When reviewing the age of people who are becoming insolvent, 30
and even ensuring terms and conditions are clear to customers. Simple per cent in 2012 are in the 36-45 age group. This group accounts for 30
but effective tactics can go a long way to keeping any firm solvent per cent of bankruptcies, 23 per cent of Debt Relief Orders and 33 per
during these tough times. cent of Individual Voluntary Arrangements. The only age group which
is higher for any insolvency solution is the 26-35 age group for Debt
When we look at UK exports, the picture wasn’t as rosy as the
Relief Orders which might be the result of younger people researching
Government would have liked during 2012. In fact, British exporters
into managing debt earlier and putting a strategy in place before their
are having a torrid time battling the headwinds of the slowing Chinese
financial position becomes much worse.
economy and the Eurozone crisis. Despite the US agreeing to increase
taxes for the wealthy as part of the Fiscal Cliff discussions in January
2013, the delay in spending cuts is only until March, which could slow
their economic progress.
4 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

5. The road ahead - 2013
It is difficult to predict 2013 as there are so
many factors that will affect the outcome
such as; the Eurozone, exports to growing
economies, changes in interest rates and
general discretionary spending to name just
a few. At best, there will be minimal growth
and at worst there will be another recession.
I expect the economy will flat line in 2013
with a steady flow of insolvencies from the
zombie businesses* that have just managed
to keep their heads above water over recent
years. The volume of personal insolvencies is
expected to reduce further and I think they
will only reach approximately 100,000 by the
end of this year.
In conclusion, it is clear that the recovery
remains weak and many businesses and
people remain cautious. The recent failures
of Comet, HMV, Jessops and Blockbuster are
prime examples of why businesses must be
cautious, plan ahead and also adapt with
the market. Businesses cannot just hope for
busier times. In 2013, we can only hope for a
glimmer of economic growth later in the year.
RSM Tenon has the experience and expertise to provide a
range of solutions to all stakeholders from providing finance
and turnaround advice through to a managed exit.
For more information on any of the data covered in this
Chris Ratten, Head of Restructuring review, our services or to discuss a client in distress please
M 07800 617398 contact me or your usual RSM Tenon contact.
E chris.ratten@rsmtenon.com
*What is a zombie business?
A company which is at high risk and nearing the point of insolvency but is still able to hang on, neither failing nor thriving.
The zombie signs:
n Just being able to pay the interest on debts, but not reduce the debt itself
n In the event of a rise in interest rates, the business will be unable to pay its debt at all
n Currently struggling to pay its debts when they fall due
n Having to negotiate payment terms with suppliers
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6. Corporate Insolvency Review
Total Insolvencies since 2009
8,000
7,000
6,000
5,000
4,000
7,175
6,988
6,701
6,018
6,082
5,810
5,572
4,764
5,807
5,471
6,051
5,471
6,130
5,868
4,979
5,355
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
2009 2010 2011 2012
Total corporate insolvencies by type
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
Compulsory Liquidations
CVL’s
Receivership Appointments 500
Administration
Company Voluntary Arrangements 0
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Scotland statistics included and sourced from the Insolvency Service.
6 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

7. Insolvency Procedures at a glance
In order of severity – least to most
1. Company Voluntary Arrangements (“CVA”)
A CVA is a legally binding agreement between a business and the people it owes money to. It is a highly
flexible and powerful tool, typically involving a 3 year plan to repay a proportion of the debt owed.
2. Administration
Administration provides a business with Court protection and places it under the control of a
licensed Insolvency Practitioner. An Administrator’s objectives are to rescue the company as a
going concern, achieve a better result for creditors compared to liquidation or to realise property
to pay the funders and/or preferential creditors (typically employees).
3. Receivership
In certain circumstances a lender may be able to appoint a Receiver to sell the business’s assets
to repay the amount owed.
4. Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation
If a business is no longer viable, the directors and shareholders can close the business and deal
with its debts by placing it into liquidation. A Liquidator would be appointed with the role of
selling or collecting in the assets and distributing the funds to the relevant parties. A Liquidator
must be a licensed Insolvency Practitioner.
5. Compulsory Liquidation
An application to Court can be made, typically by a creditor, for the liquidation of a company.
The process can take a long time to complete, but as soon as the matter is advertised in the
London Gazette the bank account of the business will normally be frozen. If the Court agrees that
a Liquidator should be appointed, the Official Receiver or Insolvency Practitioner (in Scotland)
initially takes control of the business, closes it down and its assets are sold.
The Top 20 Charge holders
Most Recent Chargeholder Admin Orders Liquidations Receiverships Grand Total
National Westminster Bank PLC 141 890 2 1,033
Lloyds Banking Group 228 704 18 950
HSBC Bank PLC 145 665 0 810
Barclays Bank PLC 132 645 3 780
The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC 101 359 7 467
Bibby Financial Services Limited 114 326 0 440
Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance Limited 55 329 1 385
Clydesdale Bank PLC 92 202 4 298
RBS Invoice Finance Limited 30 135 0 165
Midland Bank PLC 16 104 1 121
Aldermore Bank PLC 32 85 0 117
AIB Group (UK) PLC 30 62 5 97
Santander (UK) PLC 24 40 0 64
Close Invoice Finance Limited 23 35 0 58
RBS Group 12 43 1 56
Bank of Ireland 20 25 1 46
ABN Amro Commercial Finance 14 31 0 45
Northern Bank Limited 12 28 3 43
HSBC Invoice Finance (UK) Limited 11 28 0 39
SME INvoice Finance 17 22 0 39
Others 860 2,032 24 2,916
No Charge 374 11,021 2 11,397
Grand Total 2,483 17,811 72 20,366
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8. Corporate Insolvency Review
The sectors with the highest number of company failures in 2012
Business Services 5,223
Construction 3,452
1,812
Hospitality and Tourism
Public Services 1,595
Property 1,596
Retail 1,393
Wholesale 848
Vehicle Manufacturers and Distributors 612
Transport Services 500
Engineering Manufacturers 441
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
The above bar chart is the sector insolvency breakdown for England and Wales. These sectors
represent 84% of corporate insolvencies in 2012.
Note: The above chart does not include Scotland
Business Services includes: Renting of machinery/equipment; Management Activities; Public
Relations; Design Services; Packaging Activities; Legal and Book keeping services; IT Consultancy;
Repair of Goods and Industrial Cleaning.
8 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

9. Sector Insolvency Review (2012)
Sector 2012 insolvencies compared Commentary
to 2011
Retail Same There were approx. 1,330 corporate insolvencies in the retail sector during 2012 (the same as in
2011) however there was an increase in well-known names such as JJB Sports, Comet, Clinton
Cards, Jessops, HMV and Blockbuster to name just a few. According to the British Retail Consortium
(BRC), more than one in ten shops are empty with the worst regions being in Wales, the North
and Yorkshire where approx. 15 per cent of premises are empty. Many are still fighting low footfall
figures, stagnating sales and rising costs. It will be interesting to see the first quarter’s retail
insolvency numbers in 2013 after the significant discounts of approximately 70 per cent by some
retailers in the run up to Christmas and the New Year sales.
Construction Same Even though there are plenty of cranes in the skyline in London, the construction sector outside
the capital is dead. Commercial building, the lifeblood of most large firms, has failed to recover
from the financial crisis. It is clear to see that many projects are still on drawing board and
being stalled. Civil engineering has suffered from a lack of infrastructure improvements after
nearly a £30bn cut in public investment. However, the levels of insolvencies have remained very
similar in both 2011 and 2012.
Manufacturing Up Industrial output was at its lowest level since May 1992 in December 2012 and manufacturing
was 20 per cent down on its peak. The domestic market continues to be a challenging one
and the balance of payments on export sales have turned negative for the first time since
the 2008/09 recession. Companies that have a high degree of exposure to European markets
were particularly hard hit during 2012. The sub sector with the largest increase in the number
of insolvencies was Pharmaceutical, Medical and Toiletries (Up 45 per cent followed by
‘Other Manufacturing’ with 28 per cent). However, electronic and technology and engineering
manufacturers actually dropped compared to 2011, 15 and 13 per cent respectively.
Hospitality Up 6% Consumer confidence and spending continues to fall as more people are being cautious and
and Leisure controlling their budgets/spending, which has had a detrimental impact on this sector. Pubs and
other leisure related businesses are suffering most due to the drop in discretionary spending.
Even though there has been a slow recovery in tourist numbers due to the Olympics and other
sporting events, as a whole the sector outside London is on a knife edge.
Business Down 8% Despite the volume of insolvencies reducing in 2012 compared to 2011, this sector is still in
Services a precarious position. Companies are trying to reduce their spend on external suppliers,
impacting significantly on marketing, book keeping PR and IT firms. Over 45,000 companies in
this sector are currently at high risk (7%) but this is still lower than the average which shows
many business service businesses were lost in between 2008 - 11. Approx. 5,200 business
service companies were subject to insolvency proceedings during 2012.
Professional Same Many professional service businesses are extending their service range to include more consultancy
Services advice to support their core services. The market is demanding more support to ensure their survival
in the current times. Therefore, professional service firms must become as efficient as possible by
delivering the best bespoke service but at the lowest cost to the firm. In 2012, the fee income for the
top 50 accountancy firms actually increased 1.5% in real terms.
Connect to rsmtenon.com 9

10. Corporate Insolvency Review
Sector Insolvency Review (2012)
Sector 2012 insolvencies compared Commentary
to 2011
Agriculture Down 8% The adverse weather during 2012 made for a poor harvest and as a result the the agriculture sector
was adversely affected. Low domestic crop yields combined with a severe drought in the US have
contributed to increasing commodity prices that have partially offset arable agricultural sector
losses. However these prices have had a knock on effect throughout the food chain ultimately
resulting in increasing food prices for the consumer. Due to its reliance on this sector, Scotland’s
agriculture and agrifood sector was particularly affected but overall the volume of insolvencies
dropped compared to 2011.
Transport Down 12% For the majority of 2012, the price of fuel was a constant and major cost pressure in the
Transport sector. In December 2012, unleaded fuel was 2.75p a litre more than in December 2011*
which highlights the cost pressure this sector has.
Wholesale Down 15% There were 848 insolvent businesses in the wholesale sector during 2012, accounting for 1.3
per cent of companies within this sector. However, the number of businesses showing signs
of distress has increased by 2,647 when compared to 2011. Therefore, there is potential for an
upsurge in insolvencies in the latter half of 2013 as pressure mounts on them.
Finance Up 12% 253 Financial Services businesses entered into an insolvency process during 2012 which is a
32% decline when compared against 2009. Of the 41,000 businesses in this sector, over 4,800
businesses are showing signs of significant distress. Despite many companies in this sector being
hit in 2008-09, the sector still struggled to maintain service levels and is expected to continue to
struggle as clients demand more advisory services with limited uplift in costs.
Business Services includes: Renting of machinery/equipment; Management Activities; Public Relations; Design Services;
Packaging Activities; Legal and Book keeping services; IT Consultancy; Repair of Goods and Industrial Cleaning.
*According to the AA - www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/
Business Services had the largest number of insolvencies in
2012 representing 23% of all insolvencies nationally. Despite
being 8% lower than 2011.
10 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

11. Sector Trends
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
Business Services
Construction 800
Engineering Manufacturers
Hospitality and Tourism 600
Property
Public Services 400
Retail
Transport Services
200
Vehicle Manufacturers
and Distributors
Wholesales 0
2009 2010 2011 2012
Total Number of Insolvencies by Region
1,343
2,500
1,372
East Midlands
East of England
2,075
London
North East
545
North West
5,233
Scotland
1,354
South East
South West
2,419
Wales
West Midlands
810
Yorkshire and The Humber
1,379
3,108
*The source of the Scottish figures is Accountant in Bankruptcy website
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12. Corporate Insolvency Review
Expectations for 2013
According to RSM Tenon’s Tracker system 210,002 (December
2012), approximately 9 per cent of companies nationally were
showing signs of distress and significant financial issues. This
is a rise of 2.7 per cent compared to December 2011. Therefore,
despite the decreasing volume of insolvencies, the number of
businesses teetering on the edge is actually increasing.
Due to low interest rates, many business owners are just able to service the costs of their debts;
however, we expect demand for external finance to increase for a number of companies in the next
year. It is expected that only medium to large sized businesses are likely to apply for more funding,
as smaller businesses (under a turnover of £3m) will focus on debt reduction and maintaining their
cash flow.
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement focused on measures that will support investment and exports.
£13 million of funding has been awarded by the Government to help 10,000 more British firms export.
The funds will go to UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to help more companies make contacts and sell
to overseas markets. The majority of the investment – up to £9 million – will go directly towards
boosting trade opportunities for SMEs. In addition, £2.5 million will be invested in helping firms
access and win some of the many high-value opportunities that UKTI has identified globally. Over
half of the monetary value of the UK’s exports comes from SMEs. The new investment comes as part
of a drive by the Government to boost exports for UK firms and achieve its ambitions to double UK
exports to £1 trillion by 2020 and get 100,000 more companies exporting.
Despite the actions by the Government, RSM Tenon’s business barometer survey which interviewed
500 business owners in December 2012 on various topics, found that nearly 60 per cent of SME’s
surveyed thought the Government was failing to help them to export. The most worrying statistic
from the survey was that more than half of smaller businesses who could export goods have not
even considered exporting despite the Government’s efforts to support and encourage it.
The machine at the heart of the Eurozone is spluttering; the Bundesbank has sliced more than
one percentage point off its forecast for economic expansion in Germany in 2013, reflecting the
severe after effects of the sovereign debt crisis. This shows Germany is no longer immune from the
downturn and it saw its industrial and manufacturing performance falling dramatically at the end
of 2012. Without a confident or expansive Germany, it is almost certain the Eurozone’s double dip
recession will continue in 2013, dragged down by severe contractions in the southern states.
Over 50 per cent of the UK’s export trade is to European countries, so with their current difficulties,
exporting may not grow as quickly as the Government would like. Therefore, the Government needs
to also focus on emerging economies in Asia, Africa and South America.
2013 will be another challenging year as the Eurozone is unlikely to offer little in the way of growth
opportunities and some even fear a global slowdown. Only those businesses that can innovate, offer
new products and compete in faster growing markets and diversify into global supply chains will be
successful.
Overall 2013 will be very similar to 2012 in terms of insolvency, much lower than expected despite the
weak economy due to low interest rates, bank and funder leniency and the ability of some high risk
businesses to teeter on the edge.
12 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

13. Sector Insolvency Review
Using RSM Tenon’s Tracker system, the chart below shows the volume of businesses within each
sector that are deemed to be at high risk.
Sectors with the highest risk of insolvency (over 3,000 businesses)
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Business Services
Construction
Hospitality and Tourism
Public Services
Property
Retail
Wholesale
Transport Services
Vehicle Manufacturers and Distributors
Publishing and Printing
Finance
Communications
The above highlights the fact that the sectors which are dependent on discretionary spending or are Other Manufacturing
dependent on Public Sector or Government contracts are the ones which are struggling the most.
When looking at the sectors with the largest percentage of businesses at high risk of insolvency,
the figures change to: Furniture Manufacturers (37%); Textile Manufacturers (30%); Publishing
and Printing (23%); Construction (22%) and Food and Drink Manufacturers (22%). However, these
should be looked at with caution due to the number of businesses within each sector.
Factors which could cause an increase in UK Insolvencies In 2013
n Lower discretionary spending from frozen wages, increase in retail price inflation and under
employment
n Increased level of unemployment
n Actions by the US or other European countries could cause an impact on UK trade
n Increase in interest rates – but this is very unlikely!
n Businesses that are dependent on exports into Europe but are hit by new occurrences in the
Eurozone
n Private sector not developing commercial buildings or cancelling plans for new
developments especially retail parks
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14. Sector Insolvency Review
Sector expectation 2013
Sector 2013 expectation Commentary
Retail Same The average number of insolvencies in the retail sector has been approx. 1,400 per year since 2009
and we expect this to continue. The loss of some high profile retailers is set to continue in 2013 as
consumer confidence remains fragile and discretionary spending is low on the high street. Even
with lower inflation – consumers seem to prefer to pay down existing debt or save rather than
spend. 2012 Christmas trading appears to have been reasonable, though not spectacular and not
enough to prevent insolvencies in the first quarter of 2013. The rise in cheaper internet suppliers
and online/mobile sales is also having a detrimental effect on retailers especially if they cannot
compete on price or do not have a successful online presence. Retailers must be able to compete
across all channels.
Construction Up The construction sector will find it tough in 2013 as the true effect of the Public Sector cuts
become apparent. The pressure will be eased if planned public sector projects start, or if the
private sector creates some new opportunities. The hopes of the construction recovery lie with
the private sector, notably housing, commercial and industrial.
The main forecasting bodies (CPA and Experian) both believe there will be marginal growth in
2013, which could create approx. 3% growth in 2014-15. One notable change in 2012 which will
continue in 2013 is the move by the larger contractors towards smaller projects in order to fill
capacity. This will cause smaller contractors to struggle further and we expect more to fail.
Manufacturing Up Forecast growth in manufacturing output for 2013 halved from 1.5% to 0.7%. The sector
witnessed a further weakening in output and orders at the end of 2012, proving tough trading
conditions will linger in 2013.
Hospitality and Up Whilst London had a bumper year outperforming the other regions in 2012, 2013 will be a different
Leisure story. We expect to see a ‘post Olympics’ dip which is likely to be amplified in the hotel market
where capacity had been increased to cover the volume of visitors.
Generally, consumer spending will remain subdued and Sterling’s weakness will reduce the
affordability of overseas travel. However, domestic leisure and tourism operators should provide
some positive growth.
Business Services Same This sector has averaged around 1,380 insolvencies a quarter since 2009. (Peak was 1,622 in
quarter 2 2009). We expect that this sector will continue to struggle as they are exposed to
sectors that are seeing particular difficulties themselves, so are cutting their cloth to stay
afloat. Niche players in difficult markets will need to seek alternative sources of revenue to
spread the risk.
Professional Up Despite there being some improvement in trading for professional services firms over the last two
Services years, we feel the expected hard times and downturn in 2013 will have a negative impact on firms
in this sector. Fiscal tightening will pose a significant challenge to numerous professional firms
for which public sector demand is a key source of income. The changing and complex regulatory
environment and shift in emerging markets will represent longer-term challenges and opportunities
for legal and audit firms. Property and construction professionals have little to cheer about in 2013
due to the subdued housing and commercial property market conditions..
14 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

15. Sector 2012 insolvencies compared Commentary
to 2011
Agriculture Up marginally Those in agriculture and agrifood will be praying for some good weather in 2013 to ensure they
do not have another challenging year. The need to be able to harvest good quality crops and
have wider margins on livestock will be make or break for many this year.
Transport Same Thankfully there is some hope for hauliers and road related public transport in 2013 as the
planned 3p tax rise on fuel was cancelled by the Chancellor in December 2012. However,
activity in the overall transport sector will continue to be slow and will continue to be so
in the short-medium term whilst the Government’s austerity measures are in place and the
economic growth is weak.
Wholesale Up Many sectors are experiencing price squeezes resulting in lower margins available for
those throughout the supply chain. The fight between producer and consumer over pricing
combined with extended credit is likely to place increasing pressures on intermediaries.
Finance Up As over 10 per cent of businesses are still showing signs of financial distress, it is likely more
will falter during 2013. The constant changes in the market as well increased regulation,
squeezing margins and competition in insurance services is proving far too hard for some.
Business Services includes: Renting of machinery/equipment; Management Activities; Public Relations; Design Services;
Packaging Activities; Legal and Book keeping services; IT Consultancy; Repair of Goods and Industrial Cleaning.
Connect to rsmtenon.com 15

16. Personal Insolvency Review
Annual Personal Insolvencies
(Includes both Scotland, England and Wales for completeness).
180,000
160,000
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
From the peak in personal insolvencies in 2009 when nearly 160,000 people entered into an
insolvency arrangement, the volume has steadily decreased in 11 out of the last 12 quarters to
just under 130,000 in 2012.
In England and Wales, IVAs represented 41 per cent of the market in 2012 followed by Debt Relief
Orders (29 per cent) and then Bankruptcies (30 per cent). In total there were approximately
112,000 personal insolvencies with 48 per cent being women. Both women and men prefer to use
an IVA, but out of the other options, men prefer to choose a bankruptcy rather than a Debt Relief
Order which may be down to the higher levels of debt they have.
Personal Insolvency comparison graph in England and Wales 2006 - 2012
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
Bankruptcy
5,000
Debt Relief Orders
IVA’s
0
Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
16 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

17. Bankruptcies have had a marked drop
from over 20,000 in quarter 1 2009
to just 7000 in quarter 4 2012. In fact,
bankruptcies were actually overtaken
by Debt Relief Orders for the first time
in quarter 3 in 2012.
Personal Insolvencies by Age Group in England and Wales (2012)
18,000
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
Bankruptcy
2,000
Debt Relief Orders
IVA 0
18 - 25 26 - 35 36 - 45 46 - 55 56 - 65 66+
In 2012, the 36-45 age group had the most personal insolvencies with nearly 32,000 people.
Approximately 15,000 people of this age group used an IVA solution with bankruptcies
representing 9,800 and Debt Relief Orders 7,400. The 46-55 age group had the second largest
number of personal insolvencies with over 26,000 followed closely by the 26-35 age group
with 25,400.
Connect to rsmtenon.com 17

18. Personal Insolvency Review
Personal Insolvencies by Region
Scotland
18,600 insolvencies (est.)
Position: 1st North East
14.8% of total 6,625 insolvencies
insolvencies Position: 10th
5.3 per cent of total
insolvencies
North West
14,961 insolvencies Yorkshire and
Position: 2nd the Humber
12 per cent of total 11,062 insolvencies
insolvencies Position: 5th
8.8 per cent of total
insolvencies
East Midlands
9,400 insolvencies
West Midlands Position: 7th
10,837 insolvencies 7.5 per cent of total
Position: 7th insolvencies
8.6 per cent of total
insolvencies
East of England
10,845 insolvencies
Position: 5th
Wales
8.8 per cent of total
6,484 insolvencies
insolvencies
Position 11th
5.1 per cent of total
insolvencies
London
9,244 insolvencies
South East Position: 9th
14,374 insolvencies 7.3 per cent of total
Position: 3rd insolvencies
South West
12,531 insolvencies 11 per cent of total
Position: 4th insolvencies
10 per cent of total
insolvencies
Note: Position refers to the volume of insolvencies compared to the rest of the UK
An IVA in Scotland is a Trust Deed and a Bankruptcy is a Sequestration.
18 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

19. Scotland Personal Insolvencies
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
Sequestrations excluding LILA 1,000
Total sequestrations 500
Protected Trust Deeds
0
Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3 Q1 Q3
2005 2006 2007 2008
2006 2009 2010 2011 2012
Source – Accountant in Bankruptcy (AIB).
On 1 April 2008, Part 1 of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 came into force making significant changes
to some aspects of bankruptcy, debt relief and debt enforcement in Scotland. This included the introduction of the new
route into bankruptcy for people with low income and low assets (LILA).
Sequestrations sat around the 11,000 level in 2012 which is much lower than the peak in 2009
(over 14,000). The change in legislation in 2008 obviously had an impact in the number of people
entering an insolvency arrangement as it allowed more people with low incomes and low assets
(LILA) to enter into an insolvency arrangement. The graph above highlights the impact this
legislation made with the large increase from approximately 1500 at the end of 2007 to over
4000 by quarter 3 2008.
Connect to rsmtenon.com 19

20. Personal Insolvency Review
Expectations for 2013
Talk of double dip recessions, uncertainty on the high streets and
less cash in our wallets are all signs of the times, however, another
is the consistent levels of personal insolvencies with approximately
25,000 to 28,000 every quarter during 2012. This level of
insolvencies is set to continue in 2013 which is by no means close to
the levels we hit in 2009 (approximately 160,000 or nearly 40,000
per quarter).
Before an insolvency procedure is arranged, an individual can sign up for a Debt Management
Plan (Debt Arrangement Scheme in Scotland) to help them arrange their finances to avoid their
debts spiralling further. However, a lot of people in the last two years have taken a DMP only to
be moved to an IVA once they have proven their ability to meet regular monthly commitments to
their creditors.
Individual Voluntary Arrangements which usually require the individual to pay creditors over a
five year period decreased by 8 per cent in 2012 compared to 2011, which shows that people are
less confident about their long term employment prospects. If people lack confidence or are miss
sold Debt Management Plans, IVAs will continue to fall. However, due to their very nature, i.e.
being dependent on how confident people feel, 2013 is likely to see peaks and troughs and
we expect by the end of the year IVAs to remain around the 40,000 level.
Debt Relief Orders surpassed bankruptcies for the first time in 2012, not signalling the end of
bankruptcy, but proving that more people are becoming desperate with debts of less than
£15,000, a sum which may seem low to many commentators but which is a mountain of stress
for those with no means to pay it. DROs will continue at these record levels this year, overtaking
bankruptcies as they continue to decline, but we do not think they will materially increase.
Bankruptcies will continue to trickle downwards in 2013, due to relatively low levels of full (as
opposed to part time) unemployment, very low interest rates continuing to underpin home
owners, lack of new credit (so no new over spenders) and increasing use of Debt Management
Plans/Debt Arrangement Schemes.
More and more people will be on a tight budget in 2013 and for those with high debts, they will
be hoping for creditors’ forbearance. The introduction of the Universal Credit will also amplify
the problems for people on low incomes. Those who live in low income areas, where many are
on benefit, will now be expected to contribute towards Council Tax from their household budget
where in 2012, Council Tax was previously covered by benefit payments. This small step will
exacerbate problems for many.
In conclusion, despite the reducing levels of personal insolvencies in 2012, millions of people
are still carrying debts taken on before the credit crunch, struggling to balance their monthly
household budgets. In the last few years, the low interest rates have helped homeowners
but provided no clear way out. Therefore, consumer debt levels are not reducing – in many
households they sit there, the elephant in the room, stopping families getting on with their lives.
20 Sector and Insolvency Review Winter 2012

21. Contact us
Should you have any questions about the
content of this report please contact:
Phillip Ward, Senior Marketing Manager
E phillip.ward@rsmtenon.com
Extracts of these statistics and commentary
may be reproduced subject to the following
conditions:
n No commercial or financial gain is made
from the reproduction
n Acknowledgement of RSM Tenon as the
provider of the information is mentioned
in the reproduced document
About Restructuring
W www.rsmtenon.com
E restructuring@rsmtenon.com
Website details
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Tracker – www.tracker-online.co.uk
Our online Tracker system provided the data
for this newsletter. Tracker uses a variety
of data sources including all registered UK
companies, Mortgages and Charges, CCJ’s,
Administration Orders and the IVA and
Bankruptcy register.
To find out more about how Tracker can
support your business:
E sales@tracker-online.com
T 0207 448 7725
W www.tracker-online.com
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22. What happens in the real world
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