Two recent cases from New Zealand demonstrate how an equitable lien can arise in insolvency to elevate the interest of unsecured purchasers of goods to secured status.
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High Court upholds decision that separate entities of foreign states may be immune from being wound up in Australia
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On 22 Sept 2023, the Australian government responded to the Whittaker Review, releasing the Personal Property Securities Amendment Bill 2023 for public consultation until 17 Nov 2023.
Overview of the Whittaker review and Government's response
This week's issue has a strong risk focus. We cover speeches from ASIC Chair Joe Longo and Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil to the AFR Cyber Summit. On the financial services front, the FAR Bills received Assent and the ABA's new Banking Code is anticipated to be in place in 'early 2024' (subject to ASIC approval).
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services inquiry into corporate insolvency in Australia tabled its final report to the Australian Parliament on 12 July 2023.
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A recent decision of the NSW Supreme Court examines whether a 'hopelessly insolvent' subcontractor that executes a holding DOCA to enforce payment claims served on head contractor under the NSW security of payment legislation.
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This week's issue has a strong ESG focus. We cover the Senate Committee's report into the government's Bill to overhaul the existing 'safeguard' mechanism, the outcomes of the ACCC's greenwashing sweep and the ACCC's enforcement priorities for 2023/24. On the financial services front we provide an update on the status of the proposed FAR (which would expand on and replace the existing BEAR). We also provide an update on the progress of measures to further 'modernise' Corporations Act requirements and more…
Liquidators and creditors should be aware of the High Court's analysis of the limits of set-off under s 553C of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
What steps should directors take when dealing with challenges to their company's solvency? We provide a high-level guide to the legal framework, looking at directors' general duties in an insolvency context and how the safe harbour defence to insolvent trading applies.
What suggests a company may be financially distressed? What are directors' legal obligations? At what point should they seek advice?
Our guide explains the law, to help directors understand what they need to do.
Directors' general duties in an insolvency context
Some private providers may face pressure in coming months, now that the temporary changes to insolvent trading laws and the statutory demand regime have come to an end. This may particularly be the case if challenges to the international student regime continue.
Key takeouts