In brief

In brief

Can you take security over all types of assets, including working capital? Generally yes, before filing for the reorganization or the ruling setting forth the start of the liquidation bankruptcy. After the beginning of the reorganization proceedings, no further security interests can be granted over the assets of the debtor for credits due before the beginning of the reorganization proceedings. The debtor can grant security interests for new creditors after the start of the reorganization proceedings.

Introduction

The concept of winding up does not exclusively apply to insolvent companies. Solvent companies can also be wound up, on the initiation of the company’s directors and shareholders (for example, as part of a corporate reconstruction or to close down non-operating or redundant entities). 

An overview of the two key procedures to effect the dissolution of a solvent Australian company, being Members’ Voluntary Liquidation and Deregistration, is set out below. 

Directors of Australian companies face significant personal monetary -- and potential criminal and adverse professional -- consequences if they allow the company to trade whilst insolvent.

Australian insolvent trading laws are harsher, and more frequently utilised to prosecute directors personally, than in many other jurisdictions including in the US and the UK.

Accordingly, frequent assessment of a company's solvency by its directors is crucial, particularly in financially difficult times, as are active steps to address any potential insolvency.

In a recent decision 9354-9186 Québec inc. v. Callidius Capital Corp, 2020 SCC 10 , the Supreme Court of Canada affirmed that:

Colombian State of Emergency

The president of Colombia decreed a State of Emergency on the national territory due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak. He has issued a series of measures to contain its effects on public health and the economy. This chapter will be updated on a daily basis, including the principal measures issued by the national government.

02  Employment and Pensions

2.1   Whilst some COVID-19 measures relating to employment are adopted globally (e.g., self-isolation and working from home), the implementation of such measures and employment protections vary per jurisdiction. For the latest employment law guidance, we recommend that you read our latest Global Employment Guide, which covers 11 key questions across 41 jurisdictions.

2.2   Now

In brief

On 28 April 2020, it was presented before the Chamber of Senators an initiative of reform to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Law that pretends to add an emergency insolvency proceeding. Such proceeding foresees that companies that are financially affected by an emergency (such as the COVID-19 pandemic, for example) can request and be subject to an automatic declaration of insolvency.

Among the main proposals of additions, there is the creation of a new insolvency proceeding with the following characteristics:

In brief

The Chairman of the Supreme Court has just issued a decree on judicial guidelines for bankruptcy and court supervised restructuring (PKPU) processes ("Supreme Court Decree"), which sets out how Commercial Court judges are to manage bankruptcy and PKPU cases.