Introducción
Esta edición de las píldoras concursales, como ya es tradicional, incluye sentencias hechas públicas en los meses de diciembre y enero. Preferimos no enviarlas ahora en lugar de a finales de diciembre porque creemos este es mejor momento para su lectura.
In the first Part 26A appeal decision since the inception of the restructuring plan in 2020, the Court of Appeal has set aside the restructuring plan sanction order that was granted to German real estate group, Adler.
Fiduciary Duties of Receivers
Receivers appointed to enforce a security owe their fiduciary duties to their appointor and not to the mortgagor. So, when realising the assets of the mortgagor, the receivers can focus their attention on pursuing that course of action which, as they judge it, is best calculated to optimise the position of their appointor; Salmon v Albarran [2023] NSWSC 1238 ("Salmon").
Following the Government's response to the UNCITRAL consultation (see our briefing here) - which suggests that, for a while at least, the rule in Gibbs is here to stay - we expect to see an increase in parallel proceedings being used when multijurisdictional corporate groups seek to restructure their debt.
Commonwealth of Australia v Tonks [2023] NSWCA 285
In this decision, the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of NSW considered the interplay between the priority regimes under ss 556 and 561 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act) in resolving a contest between a liquidator’s claim for remuneration and the entitlements of former employees to be paid out of circulating assets.
The Court of Appeal confirmed the first instance decision of Justice Black in finding that:
The law of 7 August 2023 on business preservation and modernisation of bankruptcy law (the Law) will enter into force on 1 November 2023.
In addition to introducing certain amendments to the existing insolvency framework, the Law implements EU Directive 2019/1023 of the European Parliament and the Council of 20 June 2019 on preventive restructuring frameworks.
Scope
The Law applies to all types of commercial companies and traders (commerçants), including special limited partnerships.
Case Name & Citation
Greylag Goose Leasing 1410 Designated Activity Company v P.T. Garuda Indonesia Ltd [2023] NSWCA 134 per Bell CJ, Meagher JA, Kirk JA
Hyperlink
Date of Judgment
14 June 2023
Issues