On March 11, 2024, the Minister of Affordability and Utilities (MUA)
Court approval of a sale process in receivership or Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA”) proposal proceedings is generally a procedural order and objectors do not have an appeal as of right; they must seek leave and meet a high test in order obtain it. However, in Peakhill Capital Inc. v.
Insolvency litigation witnessed intriguing developments across multiple aspects in Hong Kong in 2023, ranging from the court’s updated Practice Direction on Bankruptcy and Winding-Up Proceedings to on-going debate surrounding the interplay between insolvency proceedings and arbitration clauses. In this Legal Update, we examine major developments that unfolded. The key takeaways are: 1.
December 2023
The Right of Set-off in Insolvency Proceedings
MAYER BROWN | THE RIGHT OF SET-OFF IN INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS
The pilot measure for mutual recognition and assistance of insolvency proceedings between the courts of three pilot areas in Mainland China and Hong Kong was agreed in mid-2021, which is known as the Cooperation Mechanism.
Since then, liquidators in Hong Kong have had a more certain and structured route to seek, through Hong Kong Court, recognition and assistance from the designated Mainland courts in the three pilot areas including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xiamen.
Key Takeaways
Over the past several years, unitranche facilities have become increasingly prevalent. This growth has been driven by the ever-growing class of private credit and direct lenders who initially developed the unitranche facility structure, along with traditional bank lenders now joining this market. The unitranche structure has several advantages, including typically quicker execution for the parties involved and in some cases a lower cost of capital to the borrower.
On November 6, 2023, WeWork Inc. and several hundred of its affiliates filed voluntary chapter 11 cases in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. According to a press release issued simultaneously with the filings, WeWork also intends to file recognition proceedings in Canada under Part IV of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. The press release also states that WeWork’s locations outside of the United States and Canada are not part of the reorganization process.
On October 18, 2023, the Québec Court of Appeal confirmed the Superior Court’s authority to declare that court-ordered charges under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) rank before deemed trusts in favour of the Crown for deductions at source.
INTRODUCTION Within German contract law, the principle of being bound by a contract (pacta sunt servanda) (i.e., the obligation to fulfill an agreement) applies. However, in the case of the insolvency of one of the contract parties, exceptions are made. Upon the opening of insolvency proceedings, the principle of being bound by a contract is modified. The insolvency provisions concerning the fulfillment of mutual contracts (Section 103 et seqq.