- INTRODUCTION
A simple, clear and effective insolvency regime is a vital element in attracting both domestic and foreign investment in a jurisdiction like Russia. To be effective, an insolvency regime has to balance the interests of various classes of creditors, as well as the interests of creditors generally in relation to other interested parties, such as shareholders or participants. An insolvency regime is expected to give the debtor an opportunity to discharge its obligations and continue its business activity.
Bankruptcy
On March 5, 2012, new rules came into force for credit cooperatives in bankruptcy proceedings; the new rules feature:
On 30 July 2012, the Presidium of the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation (the “SCC”) released its Review of rulings of the Presidium of the SCC (the “Review”) on major issues of private law for June 2012. In particular, the Review highlights that in bankruptcy proceedings a creditor’s claim upheld by an arbitration ruling may be included in the list of creditors without a writ of execution.
Circumstances of the case
On 10 August 2012, the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation (the “SCC”) published a decree clarifying disputes relating to suretyships (the “Decree”). The Decree has not been significantly amended since the draft was published in February 2012 and analysed in the March edition of the Legal Digest.
We would like to note several important positions included in the SCC’s Decree:
On 30 July 2012, the Presidium of the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation (the “SCC”) released a Review of its rulings of the Presidium of the SCC on major issues of private law for June 2012. In particular, the Review indicated that during bankruptcy proceedings, a creditor’s claim upheld by an arbitration ruling may be included in the list of creditors without a writ of execution.
On July 28, 2012, Russian president Vladimir Putin gave his imprimatur to Federal Law No. 144-FZ, which amends Russian bankruptcy, financial, and banking legislation with the goal of improving regulations governing asset returns and interim management of insolvent banks. Among other things, the amendments change Russian insolvency law to remove executive compensation and bonuses from the list of priority claims in cases involving insolvent companies.
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