In our latest report, Partners Alastair Massey and Phil Reynolds examine the retail landscape

Over one in five (22%) retail businesses in the UK aren’t confident of trading through to the end of 2023, according to new research published in our retail report.

The Supreme Court of India (‘Supreme Court’) in the case of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited vs. Girnar Corrugators Pvt. Ltd. and Ors. has held that the provisions of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (‘SARFAESI Act’) for recovery of dues payable to a secured creditor will prevail over the provisions of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006 (‘MSMED Act’).

Brief Facts

In its judgment on the 23 January 2023, the First Hall Civil Court (Commercial Section) (hereinafter the “Court”) presided by Mr. Justice Ian Spiteri Bailey delved into the salient features of a request made to the court for the dissolution and winding up of a company by a creditor or creditors of such company by means of an application in terms of Article 218(1) of the Companies Act, Chapter 386 of the Laws of Malta (the “Act”).

NGI Systems & Solutions Ltd v The Good Box Co Labs Ltd [2023] EWHC 274 (Ch) records the court’s reasons for sanctioning a restructuring plan made between the defendant company, The Good Box Co Labs Limited, its members, and separate classes of its creditors pursuant to section 901F Companies Act 2006. It also deals with other matters arising out of the company’s administration.

Nicola Sharp considers the recent appeal decision in Tradition Financial Services Ltd vBilta (UK) Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ, and the ways in which it affects the definition of fraudulent trading.

Where an individual is both a corporate director and a shareholder, can they be held personally liable for stripping value from a corporation to defeat corporate creditors? “Yes”, according to the Court of Appeal for Ontario’s recent decision in FNF Enterprises Inc. v. Wag and Train Inc, 2023 ONCA 92. But what is the legal basis for imposing personal liability for the corporation’s obligations?

The Irish courts have long recognised the principle that directors of companies that are insolvent must have regard to the interests of the creditors of the company as a matter of Common Law.

The European Union (Preventive Restructuring) Regulations 2022 (the "Regulations"), which were signed into law last year, have reinforced and refined this principle in certain respects.

This article analyses the decision of Ball J in Kennedy Civil Contracting Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (KCC) v Richard Crookes Construction Pty Ltd (RCC); in the matter of Kennedy Civil Contracting Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 99 and considers the ramifications for the scope of section 32B of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) (SOP Act).

In a recent judgment (Durose & Ors v Tagco BV & Ors [2022] EWHC 3000 (Ch)), the Court was asked to decide whether the actions of a private equity investor demonstrated "unfair prejudice". In this insight we cover what steps companies should take in light of the Court's ruling.

Summary

The role of the liquidator is to realise the assets of the company and from the sale proceeds, pay off creditors of the company. If a difficulty arises in the course of his administration of the winding up, the liquidator may apply to the winding up court for directions.