在某些情况下，开曼公司的官方清算人可能能够采取行动追回公司破产前转移的资产。对于那些关注濒临破产的开曼公司事务的人来说，了解开曼群岛官方清算人和大法院所拥有的法定权力至关重要。

可撤销的优先权

《公司法（修订版）》（「该法」）规定，「在公司无法偿还第93 条所指的债务时，公司为了使该债权人优先于其他债权人而对任何债权人作出、招致、承担或遭受的任何财产转让或转移，或对财产的抵押，以及每项付款义务和司法程序，如果是在清算开始前六个月内作出、招致、承担或遭受的，经公司清算人申请，均可撤销。」

值得注意的是，如果在清算开始前六 (6) 个月内发生、产生、取得或遭受付款，则向开曼公司「关联方」支付的款项应被视为是为了给予债权人优先权而支付，因此，根据公司清算人的申请，该款项可予撤销。

如果债权人有能力控制开曼公司或在公司财务和经营决策方面施加重大影响，则该债权人应被视为「关联方」。

公司在什么情况下无法偿还债务？

若发生下列情况，开曼公司将被视为无力偿还债务：

(a) 未遵守法定要求；

Introduction

In certain circumstances, the liquidator of a British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) company may be able to set aside certain transactions which took place in the lead up to the company’s liquidation. It is important for those concerned with the affairs of a BVI company that they are aware of the statutory powers available to the liquidator.

This week’s TGIF considers a recent decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Forex Capital Trading Pty Ltd (in liquidation) v Invesus Group Limited [2024] NSWSC 867). Justice Ball determined that admission of a proof of debt by a liquidator was not akin to a judgment or settlement, and that such an admission did not create a new liability of the company.

Introduction

Liquidations in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) can be either:

1) an insolvent liquidation and therefore governed by the Insolvency Act 2003 (as amended) (“Insolvency Act”); or

2) a solvent liquidation and therefore governed by the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended) (“Companies Act”). The Companies Act was amended by the BVI Business Companies (Amendment) Act 2022 and BVI Business Companies (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

Introduction

Liquidations in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) do not have a rescue function and mark the end of a company’s lifecycle. A liquidation in the BVI can be either:

In a recent decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (In the matter of Pacific Plumbing Group Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2024] NSWSC 525), Justice Black determined that a payment made by a third party was not an unfair preference because the payment did not diminish assets available to creditors.

Key Takeaways

The Federal Court in Morgan, in the matter of Traditional Values Management Limited (in liq)[2024] FCA 74, approved an abridged process that allowed the liquidator to admit debts of a group of unsecured creditors without requiring a formal proof of debt.

Key Takeaways

If you are considering terminating a Cayman company by way of voluntary liquidation or strike-off, it is crucial to adhere to specific deadlines and procedures to avoid unnecessary fees for the year 2024. There will be varying requirements depending on whether the entity is regulated or non-regulated.

Options for termination - voluntary liquidation or strike-off

In this week’s TGIF, we consider ASIC v Bettles [2023] FCA 975 and ASIC v Jones [2023] WASCA 130, two cases which bring into focus the conduct of insolvency practitioners and alleged abrogation of their duties and independence.

Key takeaways

In this week’s TGIF, we consider Jahani, in the matter of Ralan Property Services Pty Ltd (receivers and managers appointed) (in liq) [2023] FCA 738, a Federal Court decision approving the liquidators’ entry into funding agreements.

Key takeaways