AmCham Slovakia

Restructuring and insolvency Task Force is dealing with the recodification of the Restructuring and Insolvency Law. Restructuring is a relatively new institute in the Slovak legal system (since 2005), used for the rehabilitation of business entities that are in bankruptcy or are in danger of bankruptcy. Restructuring was introduced into the Slovak legal system by Act No. 7/2005 on bankruptcy and restructuring. The recovery of the business while remaining on the market, and at the same time the obligation to satisfy creditors to a greater extent than in the case of the declaration of bankruptcy, is the main idea of the entire restructuring procedure. Despite the fact that restructuring was used relatively little after its introduction into the Slovak legal system, after the financial crisis in 2008/2009, the number of restructurings in Slovakia increased. Before the adoption of the so-called Lex Váhostav (2015), which significantly changed the restructuring rules, approximately 100 restructurings were carried out per year.

Nowadays, there are only about 20 of them a year. However, many entrepreneurs perceive current regulation as insufficient, unclear and counterproductive. The number of successful and transparent restructurings is not rising, on the contrary, it is falling even more. Therefore, the question of changing the current legislation is more than appropriate. To achieve a successful and competitive business environment, it is essential to help companies in Slovakia successfully overcome this difficult period. The solution is offered in the form of the adoption of a new Act on Preventive Restructuring. Its aim is to introduce a new form of faster and more accessible restructuring. Also, following this process, a reform of the current Bankruptcy and Restructuring Act is expected.

Due to aforementioned reasons, the American Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak republic formulated 10 Commandments of the Act on Preventive Restructuring. We believe that the document will contribute to the adoption of new and high-quality legislation.

Draft Act amending and supplementing Act No. 7/2005 Coll. on Bankruptcy and Restructuring and on Amendments to Certain Acts.

The AmCham Slovakia Restructuring & Insolvency Task Force has actively contributed to the consultation process on the amendment to Act No. 7/2005 Coll. on Bankruptcy and Restructuring and on Amendments to Certain Acts. Through its close cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, the Task Force supports efforts to improve the business environment in Slovakia.

The proposed amendment aims to streamline and simplify insolvency proceedings by eliminating excessive administrative burdens and addressing practical application issues.

The draft introduces several key changes, including the extension of the legal fiction of contractual penalties, simplification of procedures in small-scale bankruptcy and restructuring cases, clarification of rules concerning trustees and creditors’ committees, and new provisions for asset liquidation and buyouts from the bankruptcy estate.

The amendment also aligns related legislation—such as the Commercial Code, the Act on Trustees, and the Act on Imminent Insolvency—with the updated framework. A crucial part of the proposal is the enhancement of functionality and legal certainty in the use of the register for pre-insolvency, liquidation, and insolvency proceedings. Overall, the reform responds to practical needs, eliminates interpretative ambiguities, and aims to increase the efficiency of the insolvency framework.

4th Annual Restructuring Day

Bratislava, April 9, 2025 (more info)