引子
将于2024年7月1日正式施行的《公司法》(以下简称“新《公司法》”)第二百三十二条对于“清算义务人”及“未及时履行清算义务责任”(以下简称“董事怠于清算责任”)进行了重大修订,无论是股份公司还是有限公司,董事都将成为法定的唯一清算义务人。该条规定的更新无疑将引发司法解释及其他配套规定的新一轮重大修改,并将再次对司法实践中本就争议颇多的怠于清算责任案件的裁判规则带来冲击。
引子
将于2024年7月1日正式施行的《公司法》(以下简称“《新公司法》”)第二百三十二条对于“清算义务人”及“怠于履行清算义务责任”(以下简称“怠于清算责任”)进行了重大修订,无论是股份公司还是有限公司,董事都将成为法定的唯一清算义务人。该条规定的更新无疑将引发司法解释及其他配套规定的新一轮重大修改,并将对司法实践中本就争议颇多的怠于清算责任案件的裁判规则再次带来冲击。
回望我国立法沿革,在超过三十年的时间中,对于“清算义务人”及“怠于清算责任”的规定修订之繁多、体系之冲突、解释之模糊,遍观整个民商事法律体系都属罕见,并由此引发了大量“类案不同判”的现象。鉴此,笔者将结合《新公司法》的最新修改,对涉及“清算义务人”和“怠于清算责任”的规定进行系统回顾及梳理,并以此为基础对《新公司法》的新修亮点及溯及力问题进行初步分析,抛砖引玉,并求教于业界。
一、《新公司法》之前我国法律对于“清算义务人”与“怠于清算责任”的立法沿革
(一)2005年《公司法》修订之前的相关规定
Beauty Brands, LLC, along with two subsidiaries and affiliates, has filed a petition for relief under chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 19-10031).
Angel Medical Systems, Inc., a developer of medical devices based in Eatontown, NJ, has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 18-12903).
White Eagle Asset Portfolio, LP, has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 18-12808).
Checkout Holding Corp. (dba Catalina Marketing), along with ten affiliates and subsidiaries, has filed a petition for relief under chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 18-12794).
interTouch Holdings LLC and its affiliate, interTouch TopCo LLC, have both filed petitions for relief under chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 18-12772).
Argos Therapeutics, Inc. (f/k/a Merix Bioscience, Inc.) has filed a petition for relief under chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 18-12714).
Fairway Energy, LP, along with two subsidiaries and affiliates, has filed a chapter 11 petition for relief in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 18-12684).
LBI Media, Inc., along with seventeen affiliates and subsidiaries, has filed a petition for relief under chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 12655).