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引言

近期,香港高等法院正式颁布针对一家大型港股公司(“港股公司”)的清盘令并委任清盘人。这宗债项涉及约数十亿美元的清盘呈请终于落下帷幕,也成为香港有史以来涉及金额最大的清盘案件之一。不少客户均希望了解,香港法下这类清盘对债权人利益及权利之影响。我们将持续推出系列文章,为大家介绍有关内容。

案情简介

根据香港公司清盘法律规定,公司任何一位债权人、股东或公司本身均可通过向高等法院提交清盘呈请书发起针对该公司的强制清盘。就该案而言,数月前港股公司的一债权人入禀香港高等法院,对港股公司提起清盘呈请(“呈请”)。该清盘呈请提出后,历经多次聆讯及延期申请,香港高等法院最终针对港股公司颁布了清盘令。

债权人对清盘债务人的行动

一旦公司进入强制清盘程序,根据香港公司清盘法律规定,所有针对该公司的诉讼程序均会自动中止。该规定目的在于确保清盘程序的有序进行,公司资产不会被用于提起或辩护任何法律程序,以保护公司财产和债权人利益。

引言

近期,香港高等法院正式颁布针对一家大型港股公司(“港股公司”)的清盘令并委任清盘人。这宗债项涉及约数十亿美元的清盘呈请终于落下帷幕,也成为香港有史以来涉及金额最大的清盘案件之一。不少客户均希望了解,香港法下这类清盘对债权人利益及权利之影响。我们将持续推出系列文章,为大家介绍有关内容。

案情简介

根据香港公司清盘法律规定,公司任何一位债权人、股东或公司本身均可通过向高等法院提交清盘呈请书发起针对该公司的强制清盘。就该案而言,数月前港股公司的一债权人入禀香港高等法院,对港股公司提起清盘呈请(“呈请”)。该清盘呈请提出后,历经多次聆讯及延期申请,香港高等法院最终针对港股公司颁布了清盘令。

债权人对清盘债务人的行动

一旦公司进入强制清盘程序,根据香港公司清盘法律规定,所有针对该公司的诉讼程序均会自动中止。该规定目的在于确保清盘程序的有序进行,公司资产不会被用于提起或辩护任何法律程序,以保护公司财产和债权人利益。

What is the so-called "creditor duty"?

This is the duty, introduced into English common law by the leading case of West Mercia Safetywear v Dodd1 in 1988, of company directors to consider, or act in accordance with, the interests of the company's creditors when the company becomes insolvent, or when it approaches, or is at real risk of insolvency.

Background

On 22 July 2022, the English High Court sanctioned Houst Limited’s (“Houst” or the “Company”) restructuring plan (the “Restructuring Plan”), which significantly, is the first time a Restructuring Plan has been used to cram down HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) as preferential creditor.1

Background

On 12 January 2022, the English High Court granted Smile Telecoms Holdings Limited’s (“Smile” or the “Company”) application to convene a single meeting of plan creditors (the super senior creditors) to vote on the Company’s proposed restructuring plan (the “Restructuring Plan”). It is the first plan to use section 901C(4) of the Companies Act 2006 (“CA 2006”) to exclude other classes of creditors and shareholders from voting on the Restructuring Plan on the basis that they have no genuine economic interest in the Company. 

Background 

On the 19th of August 2021, the English High Court sanctioned a Part 26A restructuring plan proposed by the administrators of Amicus Finance plc (in administration) (“Amicus”) for the company’s solvent exit from administration, enabling the company to be rescued as a going concern (the “Restructuring Plan”).

On 29 September 2021, the English High Court rejected a challenge in respect of Caff Nero's company voluntary arrangement ("CVA"), brought by a landlord on the grounds of material irregularity and unfair prejudice. The single disgruntled landlord, with the backing of the EG Group ("EG") (who were interested in acquiring Caff Nero), argued that the directors of the company and the CVA nominees breached their respective duties in refusing to adjourn or postpone the electronic voting process to vote on the CVA, after EG had submitted an eleventh-hour offer for Caff Nero.

On 2 June 2020, Mr Justice Morgan handed down his judgment in the case of Re: A Company [2020] EWHC 1406 (Ch) in which a High Street retailer (whose identity is not disclosed) applied to restrain the presentation of a winding-up petition based on the provisions of the yet-to-be-enacted Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill 2020 (the “Bill”).