According to a recent report, nearly 6,000 construction companies in the UK are in danger of going out of business. In Hong Kong, a major contractor has lost its licence and was removed from the government's registered list of contractors on 16 November 2023, with the company being given only a month to settle five private residential and commercial projects. When construction companies become insolvent, a host of tricky legal and practical issues come into play.
A bleak picture
Key developments of interest over the last month include: IOSCO publishing its final Policy Recommendations for Crypto and Digital Asset (CDA) Markets; the UK government publishing a response to its previous consultation and call for evidence on proposals for the future financial services regulatory regime for digital assets as well as the FCA and Bank of England publishing proposals on the UK stablecoins regulatory regime; the European Parliament's ECON Committee publishing draft reports on the proposed PSD3 and Payment Services Regulation; and the UK government publishing a Future of Paym
Our review of 2023 brings you right up-to-date with the latest developments in restructuring and insolvency law in Hong Kong and the mainland.
2023 saw mixed messages for holders of offshore bonds issued by Chinese issuers hoping to enforce on the mainland, good news for lenders benefitting from “hybrid” jurisdiction clauses and a degree of uncertainty being seen in the Hong Kong courts as to whether an agreement to arbitrate should always take precedence over a winding up petition, particularly where cross-claims are involved.
Nach der Implementierung des StaRUG-Verfahrens in 2021 zeichnet sich abermalig die Einführung eines neuen sanierungsrechtlichen Verfahrens ab. Auch wenn der europäische Gesetzgebungsprozess sich noch in einem frühen Stadium befindet, verspricht die bisher angedachte Art und Weise der Umsetzung der gesetzlichen Änderungen sowohl für (potentielle) Schuldner als auch für die übrigen Beteiligten im insolvenznahen Umfeld weitreichende Folgen zu haben.
On 14 March 2023, a new law (Tijdelijke wet transparantie turboliquidatie) was adopted by the Dutch legislator. This law introduces a filing obligation of the managing board that will apply to shortened liquidation procedures applied as per 15 November 2023. Under this obligation, the managing board of the company must file certain (financial) documents with the Dutch trade register and inform creditors of the company of this filing.
On 1 November 2023, the new Luxembourg law of 7 August 2023 on the continuation of businesses and the modernisation of insolvency law (the “New Law”) entered into force. The New Law introduces new safeguard mechanisms designed to promote the continuity and preservation of businesses and the jobs that go with it. It provides for a mix of out-of-court and in-court procedures, including the option for a conciliator, the possibility of amicable agreements and judicial reorganisation procedures, and grants unfortunate but bona fide traders a second chance.
The Hong Kong court has granted an order forcing an uncooperative former director of a Hong Kong listed company to ratify the appointment of a Hong Kong liquidator as the sole director of the companies' four BVI subsidiaries. The court rejected the idea that the liquidators should be made to apply for fresh winding up orders in the BVI and stressed that courts should be ready to offer each other mutual assistance.
The Hong Kong court has granted an order forcing an uncooperative former director of a Hong Kong listed company to ratify the appointment of a Hong Kong liquidator as the sole director of the companies' four BVI subsidiaries. The court rejected the idea that the liquidators should be made to apply for fresh winding up orders in the BVI and stressed that courts should be ready to offer each other mutual assistance.
The Hong Kong court has granted an order forcing an uncooperative former director of a Hong Kong listed company to ratify the appointment of a Hong Kong liquidator as the sole director of the companies' four BVI subsidiaries. The court rejected the idea that the liquidators should be made to apply for fresh winding up orders in the BVI and stressed that courts should be ready to offer each other mutual assistance.
The Hong Kong court has granted an order forcing an uncooperative former director of a Hong Kong listed company to ratify the appointment of a Hong Kong liquidator as the sole director of the companies' four BVI subsidiaries. The court rejected the idea that the liquidators should be made to apply for fresh winding up orders in the BVI and stressed that courts should be ready to offer each other mutual assistance.