上一篇我们谈到诉讼主体的确定问题,本文将从担保的视角对债券持有人的权利救济予以分析。
保证人单方出具《保证函》的效力
任何在中国内地(“”)注册成立的企业,如不能清偿到期债务,并且资产不足以清偿全部债务或者明显缺乏清偿能力的,可由该企业或其债权人(“”)提交破产申请,继而根据《中华人民共和国企业破产法》(“《破产法》”)对该企业发起破产法律程序。但是,长期以来,备受业内人士诟病的是,中国法院迟迟未对破产申请实施立案登记制度。在此背景下,最高人民法院(“”)于2016年7月颁布指导通知[1](“《2016年最高院通知》”),旨在简化和规范登记破产案件的立案受理工作。
最高院通知:优化立案程序
The Regulator has updated its guidance on assessing and monitoring the employer covenant in order to help trustees apply the defined benefit funding code of practice (“the Code”).
The guidance is intended to identify good practice for trustees in:
In the recent decision of Horton v Henry [2014] EWHC 4209 (Ch) the High Court held that a Bankrupt’s unexercised rights to draw his pension did not represent income to which the Bankrupt was entitled within the meaning of section 310(7) of the Insolvency Act 1986 and so refused to make an Income Payments Order. This contradicted the controversial decision in Raithatha v Williamson [2012] EWHC 909 (Ch) and has created uncertainty as to which is the correct position. The Horton case is being appealed.
The High Court has held that a bankrupt’s unexercised rights to draw his pension did not represent income to which the bankrupt was entitled and so refused to make an income payments order, contradicting the controversial decision in Raithatha v Williamson which held that a bankrupt’s right to draw income from a personal pension may be subject to an income payments order even if the individual has yet to draw his pension.
Horton v Henry [2014] EWHC 4209 (Ch)
Since the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (“1999 Act”), it has been understood that the rights of a bankrupt under a tax approved pension plan are excluded from the bankruptcy estate and do not vest in his Trustee in Bankruptcy.
That said, where a Bankrupt was already drawing an income from his pension, his Trustee could seek an Income Payments Order over that income.
We previously reported on Raithatha v Williamson (4 April 2012) where the High Court held that a bankrupt’s right to draw a pension was subject to an income payments order (“IPO”) even if the individual had yet to draw his pension. This judgment represented a significant departure from previous practice under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 which protected future pension rights from IPOs and distinguished them from pensions in payment. It also effectively allowed a trustee in bankruptcy to compel a bankrupt to draw pension against his wishes.