This week’s TGIF considers a decision of the Federal Court which enabled administrators of Virgin to send electronic notices, conduct electronic meetings and absolved them from personal liability for leases for four weeks due to COVID-19.

Background

On 20 April 2020, administrators were appointed to Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd and 37 of its subsidiaries (together, the Virgin Companies).

This week’s TGIF considers the decision in Aardwolf Industries LLC v Riad Tayeh [2020] NSWSC 299, in which the Supreme Court of New South Wales refused an application for leave to sue court-appointed liquidators for damages for negligence and misleading and deceptive conduct.

Background

This week’s TGIF considers the decision in Strawbridge (Administrator), in the matter of CBCH Group Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2020] FCA 472 where the Federal Court made orders absolving the administrators of retailer Colette from personal liability for rent for a two week period, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Was ist zu beachten?

Die Pandemie trifft die Wirtschaft mit voller Wucht und ein Ende ist weiterhin nicht absehbar. Um eine ungeordnete Insolvenzwelle zu vermeiden, hat der Gesetzgeber schnell reagiert und mit dem am 27. März 2020 in Kraft getretenen COVID-19-Insolvenz-Aussetzungsgesetz (COVInsAG) die Insolvenzantragspflicht zunächst bis zum 30. September 2020 suspendiert. Per Verordnung kann die Suspendierung bis zum 31. März 2021 verlängert werden.

This week’s TGIF examines the recent changes to Australia’s insolvency regime, the potential implications for business and considerations for creditors in light of the impact from COVID-19.

The Australian Government has now passed theCoronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Bill 2020. The bill was fast-tracked through both houses of parliament with bipartisan support on 23 March 2020 and makes significant changes to Australia’s insolvency regime over the next six months.

What happened?

This week’s TGIF considers the Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Act 2020, which was passed in response to the economic impact of the coronavirus. Amongst other things, the Act makes significant changes to creditor’s statutory demands and insolvent trading laws.

The Act

Die Hotelindustrie gehört zu den Branchen, die von der Corona-Krise am schwersten getroffen werden. Mitunter geht es um das schlichte Überleben der betroffenen Unternehmen. Wir möchten Ihnen in einem interdisziplinären Webinar einige der drängendsten Fragen beantworten, die Ihnen helfen sollen, durch diese herausfordernde Zeit durchzukommen.

Folgende Themen stehen im Fokus des Webinars:

This week’s TGIF considers a recent application to the Federal Court by liquidators of the WDS Group for a pooling order.

What happened?

This case concerned the WDS Group of companies.

WDS Limited (WDS) was a publicly listed company on the ASX with 11 wholly owned subsidiaries (together, the WDS Group).

This week’s TGIF examines In the matter of Bytecan Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2019] NSWSC 1910, in which the Supreme Court of New South Wales considered the scope of the advantage to an indemnifying creditor available under section 564.

The facts

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Illegal Phoenixing) Act 2019 (Cth) (Amending Act) passed into law on 17 February 2020, over a year after it was first introduced to Parliament.   

Placing phoenix activity firmly in its crosshairs, the Amending Act introduces long anticipated reforms to Australia’s efforts to curb phoenix activity.  

Background