Since our last newsletter, Russia's war in Ukraine rumbles on, domestic inflation hits new highs and there are signs of an increase in activity in the insolvency market. Russians unlawful assault on Ukraine continues unabated, as we enter the European summer months, and the fourth month of the invasion. Besides the utter devastation inflicted on the people and infrastructure of Ukraine, the war is having a significant impact on both global food and oil prices.
Proving a transaction was to defeat creditors might be easier, but recovering assets under section 588FF of the Corporations Act which are not specifically part of the impugned transaction remains a challenge.
While the M&A pipeline remains strong and the usual acquisition models for listed companies (takeovers and schemes of arrangement) remain active, as talk turns to economic headwinds and rising interest rates, it is worth bearing in mind the third possible pathway to acquire a listed company in a distressed context: the “DOCA takeover”.
IN BRIEF
This matter involved the former director and former accountant of CGS Constructions (QLD) Pty Ltd filing proceedings seeking an injunction to restrain the Liquidators from engaging Cornwalls Lawyers to act on the basis that:
- Cornwalls also acted for a substantial creditor, Union Share Pty Ltd; and
- the Liquidators, by engaging Cornwalls, had manifested a tendency to favour certain interests at the expense of others.
Background
In the matter of Squirrel Limited (In Liquidation), the Court considered an application for summary judgement against a director for insolvent trading. In doing so, the Court considered the principles underpinning a director’s duty to prevent insolvent trading and the compensation payable as a result.
Background
In Re Intellicomms Pty Ltd (in liq) [2022] VSC 228, it was determined that a sale agreement was a creditor-defeating disposition within the meaning of section 588FDB of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act) and voidable pursuant to section 588FE(6B) of the Act.
This week’s TGIF considers Arnautovic v Qaqour [2022] FCA 726 in which the Federal Court of Australia ordered a director of a company in liquidation to surrender his passport and prohibited him from travelling outside of NSW without the Court’s prior consent.
Key takeaways
In a recent article, we analysed the Court’s powers to summon a person for examination under sections 596A and 596B of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Those powers may be used by an eligible applicant to gather information from an officer, provisional liquidator or other person about the examinable affairs of an externally-administered corporation.
On 31 May 2022, the Australian Financial and Security Authority (AFSA) announced a new proposed vulnerability framework to assist businesses who are the most vulnerable within the insolvency framework. This is even more important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many businesses facing financial distress for the first time. Those businesses may be unsure how to navigate the system and what options are available to them. AFSA’s proposed vulnerability framework plans to address these concerns.
Background to the new framework
Facts
In April 2015, administrators were appointed to several companies within the NewSat Group. Secured lenders appointed receivers who attempted, unsuccessfully, to restructure the business. Following this, the group was placed into liquidation.