In 2013 bankruptcy case law has been affected by significant changes in the legislation concerning subsidiary liability of controlling persons and on regulating the bankruptcy of certain categories of debtors including developers and financial organisations.

The legal regulation of bankruptcy procedures in Russia is actively improving. Evidence of this is the nine federal laws adopted in 2013 which substantially amend Federal Law No. 127-FZ "On insolvency (bankruptcy)" as well as other regulations that deal with bankruptcy regulation. Some of these will come into force during 2014.

            Правовое регулирование процедур банкротства в России в настоящее время продолжает активно совершенствоваться. Об этом свидетельствует принятие в 2013 году девяти федеральных законов, которыми были внесены существенные изменения в ФЗ «О несостоятельности (банкротстве)» № 127-ФЗ, а также иные связанные с регламентацией банкротства нормативные акты, часть из которых вступит в силу в течение 2014 года.

Литовцева Юлия, руководитель группы практики

разрешения споров и медиации «Пепеляев Групп»,

кандидат юридических наук

For the attention of company managers and financial, tax, legal and litigation departments.

Pepeliaev Group advises of the publication, on 13 February 2013, of Resolution No. 11 of the Plenum of the Russian Supreme Arbitration Court (SAC) dated 25 January 2013 “On paying value added tax when the property of an insolvent debtor is disposed of”. This resolves,  to the benefit of creditors and buyers of bankrupt companies’ property, issues relating to the procedure and regime for paying VAT.

Постановление Девятого арбитражного апелляционного суда от 19.06.2012

Участники спора

Конкурсный управляющий

ЗАО «Цифровая электроника» ЗАО «Цифровая электроника» (Должник)

ОАО «СИТРОНИКС» (сторона оспариваемой сделки с Должником, Кредитор)

Фабула дела

Resolution of the Ninth Commercial (‘Arbitration’) Court of Appeal

dated 19 June 2012

Parties in dispute

Receiver of Digital Electronics CJSC

Digital Electronics CJSC (the “Debtor”)

SITRONICS OJSC (a party to the challenged transaction with the Debtor, the “Creditor”)

Narrative

The issue of the fee for an insolvency practitioner affects every single person involved in insolvency (bankruptcy) proceedings. It is known that the receiver’s fee is generally paid out of the debtor’s assets. Accordingly, the higher the fee, the fewer the assets that remain to satisfy creditors’ claims, restore the debtor to solvency and distribute the liquidation surplus among the members.

Specifics of enforcing the consequences of the invalidity of a transaction whereby a pledgeholder leaves pledged property in its ownership.

(ruling No. VAS-14907/11 dated 20 March 2012)

By the above ruling, the Supreme Arbitration Court (SAC) has actually reinforced the specifics of enforcing the consequences of a transaction transferring a debtor’s pledged property being invalid if it is not possible to restore the parties to their initial position.