Fulltext Search

Are the courts of England and Wales establishing themselves as a flexible forum for cross-border enforceability? Here, we consider this question in light of two recent High Court decisions: Re Silverpail Dairy (Ireland) Unlimited Co. [2023] EWHC 895 (Ch) (Silverpail) and Invest Bank PSC v El-Husseini & Ors [2023] EWHC 2302 (Comm) (Invest Bank).

近期,北京市税务局发布了《关于进一步推进破产便利化 优化营商环境的公告》(2020年第4号,下称“4号公告”)、上海市高级人民法院与上海市税务局印发《关于优化企业破产程序中涉税事项办理的实施意见》(沪高法〔2020〕222号,下称“222号文”),旨在明确破产程序中的涉税事项,充分发挥破产制度在规范市场主体退出方面的重要作用。

破产是解决企业产业深层次矛盾,优化资源配置,提升企业产业质效的重要法治途径。破产程序中涉税事项的处理是重要一环,妥善处理破产事宜无法忽视涉税问题。实践中,我们作为税务律师也经常能接到破产程序中涉税事项的咨询,部分案件中涉税事项甚至成为左右破产程序能否顺利推进的重要因素,其中不乏争议的问题,部分问题可以从两份文件中找到答案或启示,我们在此结合两份文件的亮点与重点,对于破产程序中的涉税相关事项做简要梳理,并探讨合理应对之策。

一 非正常户、发票问题的解决

The Dutch Supreme Court has confirmed the decision of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, which found that the bankruptcy of the Russian based oil company, Yukos, could not be recognised in the Netherlands because it violates Dutch public policy.

The High Court of Hong Kong refused to allow a Chapter 11 Trustee to disclose a Decision from Hong Kong winding up proceedings in the US bankruptcy court. The US proceedings were commenced to prevent a creditor from taking action following a breach of undertakings given to the Hong Kong court in circumstances where the company had no jurisdictional connection with the US.

The Australian Federal Court has clarified the limitations for foreign entities and their office holders in pursuing action in Australia to access the voidable transaction provisions of the Australian Corporations Act.

Control to Serbian Creditors- the amendments to the Serbian Insolvency Act

The recent amendments to the Serbian Insolvency Act enacted 9 December 2018 have placed more control into creditors’ hands allowing them to suggest the insolvency administrator to be appointed, as well as providing less restrictive provisions on the proposers of reorganisation proposals.

In October 2018 Judge Glenn of the United States Bankruptcy Court (New York) considered the common law principles of comity and the English common law Gibbs rule to grant recognition of a Croatian company's settlement agreement which modified both New York and English law.

Background

Following our previous article, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal following the High Court deciding that a moratorium in relation to restructuring proceedings in Azerbaijan could not be extended in breach of the Gibbs rule, allowing two significant creditors to proceed with their claims in the English Courts.

Despite the debtor's contention that his primary residence was in the United States, the Court held that it had jurisdiction to make a Bankruptcy Order following a petition presented by HMRC.

HMRC presented a bankruptcy petition against Robert Stayton on 30 May 2014 who owed approximately £653,640. The matter came before the court on a number of occasions before the final hearing, with judgment being handed down in November 2018.

The Court applied sections 423-425 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA) to the transfer of an interest in a Ukrainian television station. When analysing the Defendant's actions the Court considered the transaction was made for a prohibited purpose.

Background