Article 16 of the Saudi Bankruptcy Law
المادة 16 من نظام الإفلاس · الفصل الثالث: إجراء التسوية الوقائية: صلاحيات المحكمة في افتتاح إجراء التسوية الوقائية
Article 16 requires the ruling opening a protective settlement to set a creditors' vote within 40 days, extendable by another 40 days, and requires the debtor to announce the opening within 7 days.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تحدد المحكمة في حكمها الصادر بافتتاح إجراء التسوية الوقائية موعداً لتصويت الدائنين على المقترح، على أن يكون الموعد خلال مدة لا تزيد على (أربعين) يوماً من تاريخ افتتاح الإجراء إلا إذا رأت في الأحوال التي تقدرها تحديد الموعد بعد ذلك بما لا يتجاوز (أربعين) يوماً أخرى.
2- على المدين الإعلان عن افتتاح الإجراء خلال (سبعة) أيام من تاريخ حكم المحكمة بافتتاحه.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 16 explained in plain English
After the court rules to open the protective settlement procedure under Article 15, this article sets out two matters that follow the opening:
First: the date of the vote on the proposal.
- The court must set, in the opening ruling itself, a date for the creditors to vote on the proposal.
- The date must fall within no more than 40 days of the date the procedure was opened.
- In cases it deems appropriate, the court may set the date later than that, by no more than another 40 days. So the maximum under the text is 80 days from the opening.
Second: announcing the opening. The debtor must announce the opening of the procedure within 7 days of the date of the court's ruling opening it. The article does not specify the means of announcement.
The purpose of these deadlines is to ensure the procedure moves quickly and that creditors are aware of it, so they can prepare to vote on a proposal that will affect their rights.
Article 15 also provides that the debtor notifies the creditors identified in the proposal of the court's ruling and files a copy of it in the bankruptcy register. Article 17 allows the debtor, when applying for the opening, to request a stay of claims. A creditor who receives an announcement of the opening should keep track of the voting date and consult a lawyer specializing in commercial and bankruptcy cases to assess the effect of the proposal on their right.
Practical example
A ruling was issued opening a protective settlement for a transport company in Dammam, and the ruling set the creditors' vote for 35 days later. The company must announce the opening within 7 days of the ruling so that creditors know about it and can prepare to vote.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 16 of the Saudi Bankruptcy Law
When do creditors vote on a protective settlement proposal?
On the date the court sets in the opening ruling, within no more than 40 days of the opening. The court may set it later than that, by no more than another 40 days.
Within how many days must the debtor announce the opening of the protective settlement?
Within 7 days of the date of the court's ruling opening the procedure.
More articles on Protective Settlement
- Article 13
Article 13 allows a debtor at risk of default, defaulting or bankrupt to request the opening of protective settlement, and bars it if it underwent the procedure in the previous twelve months.
1- دون الإخلال بأحكام الأنظمة ذات العلاقة، للمدين التقدم إلى المحكمة بطلب افتتاح إجراء التسوية الوقائية في أي من الحالات الآتية: أ- إذا كان من المرجح أن يعاني م
- Article 14
Article 14 requires the protective settlement request to be accompanied by the proposal, information and documents, and the proposal to include the debtor's financial position and a classification of creditors into classes.
1- يقيد طلب افتتاح إجراء التسوية الوقائية لدى المحكمة بعد تقديمه مرافقاً له المقترح والمعلومات والوثائق ذات العلاقة، وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة. 2- يجب أن يتضمن ال
- Article 15
Article 15 governs how the court hears a protective settlement application within 40 days, and when it opens the procedure, rejects the application, or adjourns the hearing for up to 21 days.
1- تحدد المحكمة موعداً للنظر في طلب افتتاح إجراء التسوية الوقائية على أن يكون الموعد خلال مدة لا تزيد على (أربعين) يوماً من تاريخ قيد الطلب، وتبلغ المحكمة المدي
- Article 17
Article 17 allows the debtor to request a stay of claims when applying for a protective settlement, provided it attaches a report from a trustee listed in the register of bankruptcy trustees.
للمدين -عند طلب افتتاح إجراء التسوية الوقائية- أن يطلب من المحكمة تعليق المطالبات، على أن يرفق بطلبه تقريراً معداً من أمين مدرج بقائمة أمناء الإفلاس يتضمن ترجيح
- Article 18
Article 18 sets the stay of claims at no more than 90 days, extendable by 30 days at the debtor's request up to a maximum of 180 days, and explains when the stay ends.
1- دون إخلال بأحكام الفصل (الرابع عشر) من النظام، للمحكمة تعليق المطالبات لمدة لا تزيد على (تسعين) يوماً من تاريخ افتتاح الإجراء، ولها تمديد هذه المدة لـ (ثلاثي
- Article 19
Article 19 requires the debtor to notify its creditors of the stay of claims decision as soon as it is issued, and to exercise due diligence to persuade them to approve the proposal.
يلتزم المدين بتبليغ دائنيه بقرار المحكمة بتعليق المطالبات فور صدوره، وعليه بذل العناية الواجبة خلال مدة تعليق المطالبات لإقناع دائنيه بالتصويت بالموافقة على الم
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.