Key Point
The Court of Appeal has overturned a first instance decision (discussed in our April 2014 Update) that the Companies Court should not normally make an order upon a winding up petition based on tax assessments that are under appeal.
The Facts
Key Point
A provisional liquidator may be appointed if the evidence justifies it even where the tax assessments upon which the winding up petition is based are under appeal.
Facts
Key Point
Subrogation operates not by assigning the benefit of the relevant third party's security but by creating new security rights in the hands of the subrogated creditor similar to those held by that third party.
Facts
Key Point
An administrator appointed under a qualifying floating charge can "adopt" an existing winding up petition for the purposes of liquidating the company where the benefit to the creditors of the insolvent estate is manifest on the facts.
Facts
On 11 September 2014, the Supreme Court of New South Wales delivered judgment in Allco Funds Management Limited (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (In Liquidation) v Trust Company (RE Services) Limited (in its capacity as responsible entity and trustee of the Australian Wholesale Property Fund) [2014] NSWSC 1251.
The decision reminds directors of the risks associated with their involvement in transactions where they are in a position of conflict.
BACKGROUND
Key Point
Liability for utility bills arising in an administration after trading had ceased did not rank as an expense of the administration.
The facts
Key Point
The Court of Appeal has held that a UK company undergoing a financial restructuring was not entitled to recover VAT charged by accountants who prepared reports for the company's lenders use during the restructuring process.
The facts
The Financial System Inquiry was formed on 20 November 2013 by our Federal Treasurer to examine how our financial system could be positioned to best meet Australia’s evolving needs and support economic growth. The Inquiry received over 280 first round submissions and released it’s Interim Report earlier this week. [1]
Key Point
Two recent cases have resulted in innovative structures for restructuring the finances of groups of companies being sanctioned by the English Courts pursuant to schemes of arrangement. The trend for using such a mechanism for financial restructuring shows no signs of abating. On the contrary the innovative scope of such schemes appears to be expanding
Stemcor restructuring
The scheme