簡介
一間公司陷入財政困難時,其中一個重組債務的方法是與債權人訂立債務償還安排(scheme of arrangement)。根據香港法例第622章《公司條例》第673條,法院有權認許債務償還安排。經法院認許的債務償還安排將對公司及擬訂立該安排的債權人或類別債權人具有約束力。
最近在Re Hong Kong Airlines Limited(香港航空有限公司) [2022] HKCFI 3792一案中,法院需考慮是否認許香港一間大型航空公司提出的債務償還安排計劃。
案情
香港航空有限公司(「該公司」)是一間提供客貨空運以及其他航空相關服務的香港公司。由於新冠病毒疫情對航空業界造成嚴重打擊,該公司的現金流周轉不靈,合共欠債約490億港元。除非該公司能將現時債務重組,否則很可能清盤。
简介
一间公司陷入财政困难时,其中一个重组债务的方法是与债权人订立债务偿还安排(scheme of arrangement)。根据香港法例第622章《公司条例》第673条,法院有权认许债务偿还安排。经法院认许的债务偿还安排将对公司及拟订立该安排的债权人或类别债权人具有约束力。
最近在Re Hong Kong Airlines Limited(香港航空有限公司) [2022] HKCFI 3792一案中,法院需考虑是否认许香港一间大型航空公司提出的债务偿还安排计划。
案情
香港航空有限公司(「该公司」)是一间提供客货空运以及其他航空相关服务的香港公司。由于新冠病毒疫情对航空业界造成严重打击,该公司的现金流周转不灵,合共欠债约490亿港元。除非该公司能将现时债务重组,否则很可能清盘。
The Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (the "IRDA") came into force on 30 July 2020. The consolidation of all personal and corporate insolvency and debt restructuring legislation into a single statute, along with other legislative changes, seeks to further strengthen Singapore's position as an international debt restructuring hub. This note highlights certain key changes effected by the IRDA that are relevant to loan market participants.
Restrictions on ipso facto clauses
The Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (the "IRDA") came into force on 30 July 2020. The consolidation of all personal and corporate insolvency and debt restructuring legislation into a single statute, along with other legislative changes, seeks to further strengthen Singapore's position as an international debt restructuring hub. This note highlights the new restrictions on ipso facto provisions effected by the IRDA, which will be of particular interest to loan market participants.
Restrictions on ipso facto clauses
A worldwide moratorium is one of the most important protections and tools available to a debtor in the Singapore cross-border restructuring regime. A recent Singapore High Court case, Re: Zetta Jet Pte Ltd and Others (Asia Aviation Holdings Pte Ltd, intervener) [2019] SGHC 53 ("Re Zetta Jet (2)"), highlighted some important considerations relating to such a worldwide moratorium, in particular dealing with potential conflicts between different jurisdictions.
Singapore's Cross-border Restructuring Regime
After months of public consultations and revision, the Singapore parliament passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill (the "Bill") on 10 March 2017 amending the Singapore Companies Act (the "Companies Act"). The Bill contains, among others, significant and novel changes to Singapore's insolvency laws. This is no doubt a giant step towards positioning Singapore as Asia Pacific's Debt Restructuring Hub with cross-border restructuring capabilities.
Introduction - The Bill
Earlier this year the Committee to Strengthen Singapore as an International Centre for Debt Restructuring (the "Committee") published, and the Singapore Ministry of Law accepted, recommendations aimed at enhancing Singapore's position as a `lead centre' for international debt restructuring. Is Singapore now well-positioned to become Asia Pacific's debt restructuring hub?
Background