With the tapering of pandemic restrictions, businesses around the world are looking to settle into the new normal. It is a time of optimism but also some lingering uncertainty. Some businesses have survived through cost-cutting and downsizing of employees and may need time to recover. In some cases, the pandemic has ignited the momentum for digital transformation and has been a catalyst for business innovation. “Work from home” became widespread during the pandemic and changed the way many businesses and employees view the workplace.

Sellers and suppliers of movable assets can avoid problems caused by poorly-paying customers through a retention of title clause.

This clause makes it contractually possible to stipulate that ownership of a certain good does not transfer until the purchaser has paid the full price.

Fewer Insolvencies for More Opportunities

At the end of 2021, corporate bankruptcies (for most company sizes and in most sectors) were at their lowest level compared to the pre-COVID-19 figures from 2019, with a 50% drop in insolvency proceedings and a 10% decrease in pre-insolvency situations. This was largely due to the temporary impact of government emergency measures and support, including:

Each week, Crowell & Moring’s State Attorneys General team highlights significant actions that State AGs have taken. Here are this week’s updates.

Monday, November 8, 2021

Antitrust

Verkopers en leveranciers van roerende goederen kunnen problemen met slecht betalende klanten voorkomen via een beding van eigendomsvoorbehoud.

Met dit beding kan men namelijk contractueel bepalen dat het eigendomsrecht op een bepaald goed pas overgaat nadat de derde-verkrijger er de prijs volledig van heeft betaald.

簡介

最近在Re Hsin Chong Construction Co., Ltd. [2021] HKCFA 14一案中，終審法院推翻了原訟法庭及上訴法庭（「上訴庭」）的裁決。與上訴庭及原訟法庭的裁決相反，終審法院裁定，於新昌開始清盤後出售其在合營協議項下剩餘權利及權益的交易是無效的。

背景

新昌營造廠有限公司（「該公司」）及Build King Construction Limited（「Build King」）於2013年11月訂立一份合營協議（「合營協議」），以成立及經營一間合營公司（「合營公司」）。合營公司於2016年6月獲得一項大型政府項目合約，其中該公司佔65% 權益，Build King佔餘下35% 權益。

該公司於2017/2018年度開始面臨財政困難。2018年8月27日，該公司被入稟清盤，導致該公司的銀行帳戶被凍結。

Introduction

In the recent case of Re Hsin Chong Construction Co., Ltd. [2021] HKCFA 14, the Court of Final Appeal (“CFA”) overturned the decisions of the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal (“CA”) below. The CFA found, contrary to the CA and Court of First Instance, that the disposition of Hsin Chong’s residual rights and interests under a joint venture agreement after the commencement of winding up was void.

Background

简介

最近在Re Hsin Chong Construction Co., Ltd. [2021] HKCFA 14一案中，终审法院推翻了原讼法庭及上诉法庭（「上诉庭」）的裁决。与上诉庭及原讼法庭的裁决相反，终审法院裁定，于新昌开始清盘后出售其在合营协议项下剩余权利及权益的交易是无效的。

背景

新昌营造厂有限公司（「该公司」）及Build King Construction Limited（「Build King」）于2013年11月订立一份合营协议（「合营协议」），以成立及经营一间合营公司（「合营公司」）。合营公司于2016年6月获得一项大型政府项目合约，其中该公司占65% 权益，Build King占余下35% 权益。

该公司于2017/2018年度开始面临财政困难。2018年8月27日，该公司被入禀清盘，导致该公司的银行帐户被冻结。

As has been widely reported, the recent energy price volatility (coupled with the price cap limiting suppliers’ ability to pass increased costs on to consumers) has caused a number of energy supply company failures. Yesterday saw the announcement of the collapse of Bulb, one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers, with it being due to be placed into special administration very shortly.

This is the first energy special administration we’ve seen. So how are the insolvency rules different for energy companies? What is a special administration, and why is this the first one?

The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill 2021 (the Bill) is expected to come into force from 25 March 2022 – it is intended to introduce an arbitration procedure for commercial rent arrears accrued by businesses during the “protected period” and also to extend the restrictions on the use of winding up proceedings and now to include personal bankruptcy.

The “protected period” relates to business tenancies adversely affected by the pandemic either by enforced closure or restrictions placed on trade. This period – as set out in section 5 of the Bill – runs from: