Financial restructurings are becoming increasingly common in the current financial climate, also in the Netherlands. Since the implementation of the Dutch scheme of arrangement on 1 January 2021, a relatively new tool to restructure debts of Dutch corporate entities in order to prevent their insolvency is available in the Netherlands. Under the Dutch scheme of arrangement, a creditors composition is binding on all creditors if a sufficient number of (classes of) creditors vote in favour of the scheme. In principle, the preferential order of priority for secured creditors, e.g.

Purkiss v Kennedy & Ors [2024] EWHC 1081 (Ch) is another judgment in a string of cases arising out of schemes designed to enable self-employed individuals to avoid paying income tax and national insurance on their remuneration. The decision of the Supreme Court in RFC 2012 Plc v AG for Scotland demonstrated the flaws that often mean such schemes fail.

中国船舶修造业在全球范围内具备足够的竞争力和优势，特别是江苏省作为我国的船舶修造重要区域，江苏地区的船舶修造和海洋工程已是江苏的一张名片。来自江苏省人民政府的统计数据显示：2022年，全省船舶海工规模以上企业实现营业收入1440亿元、占全国比重超三分之一；造船三大指标连续14年居全国第一。2023年前10月，江苏省造船完工量、新接订单量、手持订单量分别达1627.1万、2807.6万、6110.7万载重吨，占世界市场份额四分之一。江苏已形成南通海工装备和豪华邮轮、泰州大型油船和集装箱船、扬州大型散货船和滚装船等特色基地，船舶海工产业规模总量全国领先、核心竞争力显著提升、国际影响力不断增强。[①]江苏省国防科工办已发布《江苏省南通市、泰州市、扬州市高技术船舶和海工装备国家先进制造业集群培育提升三年行动方案（2023—2025）》，全力打造打造地标性世界级船舶海工先进制造业集群。

前言

2024年4月8日，世茂集团控股有限公司（股份代号00813.HK，“世茂集团”）在港交所披露，中国建设银行（亚洲）股份有限公司于2024年4月5日向香港特别行政区高等法院（“香港高等法院”）提出对世茂集团的清盘呈请，涉及金额15.795亿港元。世茂集团极力反对该呈请，提出将继续推进境外债务重组，并于4月10日发布有关清盘呈请的进一步公告称，高等法院已将该呈请的首次聆讯日定为2024年6月26日，呈请人提交清盘呈请并不代表能成功进行清盘。

而在2024年1月29日，香港高等法院对中国恒大集团（股份代号03333.HK，“中国恒大”）正式作出公司清盘令并委任共同及各别清盘人。2024年3月22日，中国恒大发布自愿性公告，称其已撤回向美国法院提出的境外债务重组协议安排申请。

继中国恒大陷入严重债务危机并被香港高等法院颁布清盘令后，世茂集团近期被债权人提出清盘呈请的事件再度引发内地债权人关注。对于内地债权人而言，香港清盘程序究竟会对其产生何种影响？

关于香港清盘程序以及清盘令的内容，以及香港清盘程序与内地破产程序的对比，详见我们在香港公司清盘程序对内地债权人的影响（一）一文中的分析。

Although there are occasions when formal insolvency proceedings are unavoidable, there are many cases where a consensual, out-of-court approach is more appropriate and desirable.

We are often engaged to assist creditors, directors and other stakeholders with negotiating standstill agreements or restructuring support agreements to give breathing space to put new terms in place and allow the relevant corporate entity (or group) to continue as a going concern.

As part of the continuous efforts of the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) to assist corporate taxpayers to understand and manoeuvre through the complexities of the corporate tax regime of UAE, FTA has released the latest Business Restructuring Relief Guide for Corporate Tax Purposes (Guide). However please be mindful that, unlike Tax laws, FTA Guidelines are not legally binding.

In een eerder artikel schreven we over de inwerkingtreding van de Wet veiligheidstoets investeringen, fusies en overnames (Vifo) op 1 juni 2023. Het doel van de Wet Vifo is het vastleggen van regels waarmee risico’s beheerst kunnen worden die voortvloeien uit bepaalde verwervingsactiviteiten.

When individuals and certain entities (such as partnerships, trusts and other unincorporated bodies) have debts that they are unable to repay to their creditors, they may consider or be faced with bankruptcy, which is known as sequestration in Scotland. However, sequestration is just one avenue. Alternative statutory debt solutions are available, which can provide breathing space and allow debts to be repaid over time, without creditor pressure.

There is a lesson for all debtor attorneys in the Chapter 7 case of In re Aquilino.[Fn. 1]

The moral of the In re Aquilino story is this:

• a little carelessness in describing and disclosing bankruptcy fees in a Chapter 7 case can create big problems.

Fee Agreements & Disclosures

Here is the winding path of fee agreement descriptions and disclosures, between the Debtors and their attorneys, in the In re Aquilino Chapter 7 case:

The Grand Court confirms that the Court has the jurisdiction to appoint an alternative voluntary liquidator in place of a Liquidating Agent under a limited partnership agreement.

Background