We update our earlier client alert with a version including additional details that are available.
In brief
On 24 September 2020, the Treasurer announced that the Australian Government would introduce new legislation to give effect to:
In brief
In brief
The Treasurer has today announced two new corporate insolvency regimes:
- a new "debtor in possession" restructuring plan process; and
- a new simplified liquidation process,
due to commence from 1 January 2021 and available to companies with liabilities of less than A$1m.
Restructuring Plan Process
The new restructuring plan process involves:
In brief
In brief
What is it?
The UK Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 came into force on 26 June 2020. It introduced a new restructuring plan procedure amongst its package of permanent measures. The restructuring plan gives directors another tool when considering restructuring options. Directors faced with financial distress can now weigh up the new restructuring plan, or the existing “tried and tested” scheme of arrangement.
In brief
Baker McKenzie recently acted for the Foreign Representatives of Thai Airways International Public Company (Thai Airways), in successfully obtaining orders recognising the business organisation proceeding commenced by Thai Airways in Thailand as a foreign main proceeding pursuant to article 17 of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross‑Border Insolvency (the Model Law) which is incorporated into Australian law by the Cross‑Border Insolvency Act 2008 (Cth) (the Act).
Recent Hong Kong cases have highlighted varying approaches regarding the impact of arbitration clauses on insolvency proceedings, in particular, on the Court’s discretion to make a winding-up order where a debt is disputed.
Recent judgments have varied between the so-called Traditional Approach which requires the company-debtor to show a genuine dispute on substantial grounds and the Lasmos Approach which requires the company only to commence arbitration in a timely manner.
- Introduction
Under Hong Kong law, a company shall be deemed to be unable to pay its debts if a creditor, to whom the company is indebted of at least HKD 10,000 (around USD 1,290), has served on the company a demand requiring the company to pay and the company has not done so within three weeks.
Summary
The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (CIGA 2020) came into force on 26 June 2020 after a fast-tracked consultation process. Intended to provide a lifeline to struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, it consists of temporary measures, meant to alleviate the short-term disruption caused by the pandemic and permanent measures, which are more broadly designed to assist companies in times of difficulty.