簡介

英國和香港的法例均規定，債權人只可以就其應獲支付的算定金額提出破產呈請，但相關法例條文並無界定何謂「算定金額」（liquidated sum）。在Re Dusoruth (a bankrupt) Dusoruth v Orca Finance UK Ltd (in liquidation) [2022] EWHC 2346 (Ch) 一案中，英格蘭及威爾斯商業及財產法庭（「法院」）澄清，復還不當得利的申索不論如何確切，仍不能被視為算定金額，因此不能成為破產呈請的依據。

背景

申請人是一名商人，亦是在英國、英屬維爾京群島及馬爾他等多個司法管轄區註冊的多間公司的最終擁有人。他以其中一家公司進行欺詐，遊說富戶投資，然後透過無抵押貸款將資金轉移到他控制的其他公司。申請人被他其中一間正在清盤的公司（「答辯人」）基於以下債務提出破產呈請（「該破產呈請」），並於2020年11月被判定破產：

1.從答辯人的銀行帳戶支付，用於清償申請人的個人信用卡帳單的361,899.73歐元；及

Introduction

简介

英国和香港的法例均规定，债权人只可以就其应获支付的算定金额提出破产呈请，但相关法例条文并无界定何谓「算定金额」（liquidated sum）。在Re Dusoruth (a bankrupt) Dusoruth v Orca Finance UK Ltd (in liquidation) [2022] EWHC 2346 (Ch) 一案中，英格兰及威尔斯商业及财产法庭（「法院」）澄清，复还不当得利的申索不论如何确切，仍不能被视为算定金额，因此不能成为破产呈请的依据。

背景

申请人是一名商人，亦是在英国、英属维尔京群岛及马尔他等多个司法管辖区注册的多间公司的最终拥有人。他以其中一家公司进行欺诈，游说富户投资，然后透过无抵押贷款将资金转移到他控制的其他公司。申请人被他其中一间正在清盘的公司（「答辩人」）基于以下债务提出破产呈请（「该破产呈请」），并于2020年11月被判定破产：

1.从答辩人的银行帐户支付，用于清偿申请人的个人信用卡帐单的361,899.73欧元；及

Today’s statistics reveal a stark reality that insolvencies are continuing to climb in the face of record levels inflation, increasing interest rates and an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which is pushing businesses to breaking point. The situation is exacerbated by the lack of any new government support for businesses, which are particularly affected by the steep rise in energy costs.

Amidst the cost of living crisis, businesses are folding in record numbers, with barely a week passing without news of a big company casualty. Paperchase is the latest retailer to collapse into administration, with the business being snapped up by Tesco for sale in its superstores and 820 jobs reportedly at risk. So how can we identify the businesses that are in the danger zone and could be heading for insolvency?

1. Profit warnings

Introduction

When a company encounters financial difficulty, one of the ways to restructure its debts is by entering into a scheme of arrangement with its creditors. Under section 673 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), the Court may sanction a scheme of arrangement. The sanctioned scheme will be binding on the company and the creditors or class of creditors with whom the arrangement is proposed to be entered into.

簡介

一間公司陷入財政困難時，其中一個重組債務的方法是與債權人訂立債務償還安排（scheme of arrangement）。根據香港法例第622章《公司條例》第673條，法院有權認許債務償還安排。經法院認許的債務償還安排將對公司及擬訂立該安排的債權人或類別債權人具有約束力。

最近在Re Hong Kong Airlines Limited(香港航空有限公司) [2022] HKCFI 3792一案中，法院需考慮是否認許香港一間大型航空公司提出的債務償還安排計劃。

案情

香港航空有限公司（「該公司」）是一間提供客貨空運以及其他航空相關服務的香港公司。由於新冠病毒疫情對航空業界造成嚴重打擊，該公司的現金流周轉不靈，合共欠債約490億港元。除非該公司能將現時債務重組，否則很可能清盤。

简介

一间公司陷入财政困难时，其中一个重组债务的方法是与债权人订立债务偿还安排（scheme of arrangement）。根据香港法例第622章《公司条例》第673条，法院有权认许债务偿还安排。经法院认许的债务偿还安排将对公司及拟订立该安排的债权人或类别债权人具有约束力。

最近在Re Hong Kong Airlines Limited(香港航空有限公司) [2022] HKCFI 3792一案中，法院需考虑是否认许香港一间大型航空公司提出的债务偿还安排计划。

案情

香港航空有限公司（「该公司」）是一间提供客货空运以及其他航空相关服务的香港公司。由于新冠病毒疫情对航空业界造成严重打击，该公司的现金流周转不灵，合共欠债约490亿港元。除非该公司能将现时债务重组，否则很可能清盘。

While many businesses (particularly in the retail, leisure and hospitality industries) will have been hoping to capitalise on a busy festive period, sadly for many the busy period came too late as corporate insolvencies rose again in December. Overall, company insolvencies were 32% higher than December 2021, and 76% higher than in December 2019 (i.e.

As the chill of recession bites for homes and businesses alike, SMEs are faced with the daunting prospect of navigating their way through the bleak mid-winter. In October 2022, inflation reached 11.1% and company insolvencies were 38% higher than the same period last year. Creditors’ voluntary liquidations in the same period were 53% higher than in 2019 (i.e. pre-pandemic), continuing the theme of businesses being forced to consider this terminal insolvency process, as following the pandemic they have struggled to adapt to the challenging market conditions.