The Supreme Court reiterates the doctrine in its rulings of February 12 and 19, 2013, although in this case, unlike the above rulings, in which the credits were classified as insolvency credits, it concluded that instalments resulting from one finance lease agreement falling due after the declaration of insolvency are claims against the insolvency estate.

In 2011, the Spanish legislator introduced the court-sanctioned refinancing agreement (‘Spanish Scheme’) in the Spanish insolvency system. While the introduction of the Spanish Scheme has been praised for providing new tools for debtors to reorganise out-of-court while addressing the collective action problem, certain of its provisions have made this instrument too rigid and, thus, ineffective for tackling Spanish restructurings.

Judgment of the Court of Appeal of Porto of 05-12-2013

Contract Termination in Favor of the Insolvency Assets – Conditional Termination – Requirements – Bad Faith – Judicial Presumption

This decision is a testament to the flexibility of schemes of arrangement in Australia as a means of effecting settlements with a company’s creditors as well as third parties such as the company’s insurers. The Federal Court also demonstrated its propensity to take a liberal interpretation of what constitutes a “compromise or arrangement” to enliven its jurisdiction to convene a meeting of creditors for the purpose of considering a proposed scheme of arrangement.

Act 14/2013, of September 27, 2013, favoring entrepreneurs and their internationalization (the “Act”), introduces a wide range of reforms on insolvency, corporate, tax and labor matters. Regarding insolvencies, it takes a more flexible approach to the quorum of financial creditors required for court-sanctioned refinancing agreements and it regulates out-of-court agree-ments for payment as mechanisms for out-of-court negotiation with creditors.

REFINANCING AGREEMENTS

From 15 August 2013, the Insolvency & Trustee Service Australia (ITSA) will now be known as the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA). The name change is thought to better capture the breadth of the services administered by the authority, but the services remain the same, namely, the administration and regulation of Australia’s personal insolvency system and the administration of the Personal Property Securities Register.

I ARTICLE 233(5) OF THE CODE OF INSOLVENCY AND RECOVERY OF COMPANIES

RENTA CORPORACIÓN: CENTRE OF MAIN INTERESTS IN SPAIN

On the advice of Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira, RENTA CORPORACIÓN REAL ESTATE S.A. (“Renta Corporación”) applied for a declaration of insolvency jointly with three of its Spanish subsidiaries (RENTA CORPORACIÓN REAL ESTATE ES S.A.U., RENTA CORPORACIÓN REAL ESTATE FINANCE S.L.U. and RENTA CORPORACIÓN CORE BUSINESS S.L.U.).  

SUPREME COURT RULING NO. 44/2103, OF FEBRUARY 19, 2013: INSOLVENCY CLASSIFICATION OF FINANCE LEASE INSTALMENTS DEPENDS ON SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT

Supreme Court finds that where a finance lease agreement releases the lessor from liability for defects, credits resulting from payments due before the declaration of insolvency and for those falling due after it are insolvency credits  

LE PRINCIPE DE PRIMAUTE DU DROIT COMMUNAUTAIRE NE SAURAIT FAIRE ECHEC AUX REGLES TRES RESTRICTIVES DE DROIT INTERNE DES PROCEDURES COLLECTIVES (CASS. COM., 23 AVRIL 2013, F-P+B, N°12-19.184)