In many of the recent insolvencies of digital asset companies, liquidators have been appointed over companies in which digital assets have been fraudulently transferred from wallets controlled by an insolvent company into other unidentified wallets in foreign jurisdictions.
The anonymity of cryptoassets causes serious difficulties for insolvency practitioners in identifying the third parties who received funds and the location of the digital wallets.
Domestic Procedures
On 28 March 2024, the BVI Court granted the Joint Liquidators of Three Arrows Capital Ltd (in liquidation) ("3AC") sanction to make an interim distribution of up to US$100 million of 3AC's assets to its creditors in BVIHC(COM)2022/0119 Russell Crumpler and Christopher Farmer (as Joint Liquidators of Three Arrows Capital Ltd (in Liquidation)) v Three Arrows Capital Ltd (in Liquidation).
Our analysis of a recent court judgment in the ongoing liquidation of the high profile crypto-asset hedge fund Three Arrows Capital is by Nicholas Brookes and Romauld Johnson, part of Ogier's BVI team representing the joint liquidators.
Read our update on crypto insolvency issues from Three Arrows, which illustrates implications of the judgment including
The Irish High Court (Court) has pierced the corporate veil in Powers -v- Greymountain Management Ltd [In Liquidation] & Ors [2022] IEHC 599, to hold passive resident directors and non-resident shadow directors personally liable for funds lost to investors as a result of fraud.
The Facts
The High Court (Court) has appointed an inspector to investigate the affairs of a company following the first recorded application by a creditor, under Section 747 of the Companies Act 2014 (Act).
The Facts
The applicant, a creditor of WFS Forestry Ireland Limited (Company), and at least seventeen others, claimed that investments they made in the Company, in the form of loans and other advances, were not repaid when due.
Can directors or shareholders be required to contribute to the liquidation estate?
What liability can directors or other officers attract in respect of an insolvent company?
What categories of transaction can be avoided or set aside?
Who is responsible for seeking orders to set aside such transactions?
This Q&A on avoidance transactions is part of a series on restructuring and corporate recovery jurisdiction in the British Virgin Islands.(1)