CVA vs administration
A Company Voluntary Arrangement and administration are both rescue routes for a viable but struggling company, and the choice between them depends on how much protection you need and whether you want to keep control. A CVA is a binding agreement to repay creditors a proportion of what they are owed over a fixed period, usually three to five years, while the directors keep running the company under the supervision of a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. It works well when the business is fundamentally sound but burdened by historic debt and can afford realistic monthly payments. Administration is more interventionist: a practitioner takes control of the company, and a legal moratorium immediately stops creditor action, including any winding-up petition. It suits a company that needs urgent protection from creditors, or where a sale or major restructuring is the best outcome. In practice the two can connect, because a company sometimes enters administration to gain protection and then proposes a CVA. A practitioner will advise which fits your situation. Insolvency Act 1986; Insolvency Service
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At a glance
| CVA | Administration | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A binding agreement to repay creditors over time | A formal procedure where a practitioner takes control |
| Who keeps control | Directors keep running the company, supervised | A practitioner acting as administrator takes control |
| Protection from creditors | Limited; the deal binds creditors once approved | Immediate legal moratorium stops creditor action |
| Repayment | A proportion of debt, usually over 3 to 5 years | Via restructure, sale, or the process |
| Best for | A sound business that can afford realistic payments | A company needing urgent protection or a sale |
| Typical length | A fixed term, usually 3 to 5 years | A defined administration period |
Control versus protection
A CVA keeps you in control but offers less immediate protection; administration offers strong protection but hands control to a practitioner. The right balance depends on creditor pressure and the rescue plan.
Common questions
Can a company do a CVA and administration together?
Yes, in some cases a company enters administration for protection and then proposes a CVA to repay creditors over time. A practitioner will advise whether that combined approach fits.