On May 19, 2021, Hospitality Investors Trust Operating Partnership, L.P., a New York-based hotel industry real estate investment trust, severely impacted by the Covid-19 related travel drop-offs, along with affiliate Hospitality Investors Trust, Inc., filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10830).

Introduction

On May 14, 2021, Gateway Kensington LLC, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-22274).

引言

在Re China Huiyuan Group Ltd [2020] HKCFI 2940一案中，原訟法庭拒絕對一家在香港上市的開曼公司進行清盤，因為原訟法庭認為，呈請人未能證明在作出清盤令後，債權人確實有可能獲得實際利益。

案情

SDFIII Holdings Limited（以下簡稱「呈請人」）以資不抵債為由，發出對China Huiyuan Juice Group Limited（以下簡稱「該公司」）進行清盤的呈請。各方對該債務沒有爭議。

該公司在開曼群島註冊成立，並在香港聯交所主板上市。該公司的資產包括在英屬處女群島註冊成立的附屬公司的所有權，該等附屬公司在中國內地擁有附屬公司，而該等附屬公司又擁有該公司的相關資產，並開展生產及其他業務。

對該公司無爭議的是，該公司已資不抵債。該公司要求押後該呈請，以推進該公司的債務重組。由於股份已暫停買賣，而該公司亦面臨潛在的退市問題，該公司認為重組是令集團業務重回正軌的唯一方法，長遠而言，對該公司的債權人是有利的。

因此，法院將裁定是否立即發出清盤令或批准延期。

爭議點

爭議點如下：-

Introduction

In the recent case of Re Victor River Ltd [2021] HKCFI 886, which concerns the winding-up of a foreign company, the Court of First Instance applied the long-developed three core requirements which must be satisfied before exercising discretionary jurisdiction of the Court. In particular, the Court discussed how the holding of shares in a delisted company may impact on the Court’s consideration of the three core requirements. 

Background

On April 26, 2021, Royal Blue Realty Holdings, Inc., a New York-based real estate company, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-10802). The company reports $1 million to $10 million in assets and $10 million to $50 million in liabilities.

On April 25, 2021, Secure Home Holdings LLC and various affiliates, which provide home security services and smart home automation to residential and small business customers, filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10745). The company reports $100 million to $500 million in both assets liabilities.

On April 24, 2021, New York-based beachwear retailer L&L Wings, Inc., which operates 26 stores in the Carolinas, Florida, Texas and California, filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 21-10795).

On April 24, 2021, Augustus Intelligence Inc., a New York based AI systems developer, filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 21-10744). The company reports $10 million to $50 million in assets and $1 million to $10 million in liabilities.

簡介

中國於 1986 年頒布《企業破產法》。《企業破產法》屬全國性法律，但只適用於企業清盤， 並不涵蓋自然人破產。中國首部個人破產法規《深圳經濟特區個人破產條例》（「該條例」） 於 2020 年 8 月 31 日頒布，並已於 2021 年 3 月 1 日生效。當局在草擬該條例時，參考了多個 市場經濟發展較為成熟的司法管轄區的法律，例如英國、美國、德國、日本、香港及台灣。該 條例旨在建立完整的現代化破產制度，讓誠實而不幸的債務人能夠從債務危機中解脫出來。

申請個人破產的準則 

根據該條例第二條，該條例適用於符合下列準則的自然人：

1. 在深圳經濟特區居住；
2. 連續三年繳納社會保險費；及
3.  資產不足以清償全部債務或因生產經營、生活消費導致喪失清償債務能力。 

上述債務人應當清償債務或與債權人達成和解協議。如債務人符合以上準則但有未來可預期收 入，則可進行重整。債務人若已按照該條例展開個人破產程序，其配偶亦可提交個人破產申 請，無需符合關於居住地及社會保險費的準則。