Chapter 11 plans of reorganization provide creditors with recoveries (cash or new securities) in exchange for a release and discharge of all claims against the debtor. Many Chapter 11 plans go a step further to release claims against related entities and persons who are not debtors in the case. Members of Congress have recently proposed legislation that could prohibit such nonconsensual third-party releases.

This week’s TGIF looks at a recent Federal Court decision which offers guidance on when receivers may be released from claims arising out of their appointment and relieved from filing and serving formal accounts.

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The recent Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal case of Quin v Vlahos [2021] VCSA 205 has clarified when third party funds, such as a sole director’s personal bank account, can be taken into account in determining a company’s solvency.

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This week’s TGIF considers a recent case where the Supreme Court of Queensland rejected a director’s application to access an executory contract of sale entered into by receivers and managers on the basis it was not a ‘financial record’

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This week’s TGIF looks at the decision of the Federal Court of Australia in Donoghue v Russells (A Firm)[2021] FCA 798 in which Mr Donoghue appealed a decision to make a sequestration order which was premised on him ‘carrying on business in Australia' for the purpose of section 43(1)(b)(iii) of the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth) (Act).

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This week’s TGIF considers the decision of Palace v RCR O’Donnell Griffin Pty Ltd (in liq)[2021] QCA 137, in which the Queensland Court of Appeal provided useful guidance on the principles to be applied when a party seeks leave under section 500(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to bring proceedings against a company in liquidation.

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This week’s TGIF considers the decision of the Supreme Court of NSW in In the matter of Pacific Steelfixing Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 655, where a liquidator failed to adequately prove that payments to a creditor, during the relation back period, were voidable transactions because the Liquidator had not finalised investigations into the potential recovery claims available to him.

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This week’s TGIF considers a decision of the Federal Court which concerned a request for an extension to bring a voidable transaction claim where, but for COVID-19, the application would have been filed.

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After a sluggish year in 2020 for mergers and acquisitions among hospitals and health systems, 2021 has shown renewed vigor and is poised for considerable transactional activity.

The ability to assume or reject executory contracts is one of the primary tools used by debtors in a Chapter 11 reorganization. Where a debtor has a contract with a third party that is “executory”—meaning that ongoing performance obligations remain for both the debtor and the contract counterparty on the date of the bankruptcy filing—the debtor can choose to either assume or reject the contract under 11 USC § 365.