Background

Coin Co International PLC (Administrators Appointed) (Coin Co) was a company incorporated in the UK which conducted a cash services business in the UK and a global currency exchange business in various countries, including Australia.

There are various Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) disasters occurring in the construction industry following contractors’ insolvency or default. These typically arise from a failure to register against leased/hired or retention of title (ROT) equipment or materials, late registration, or incorrect financing statements.  

In some cases, legal owners of equipment or materials have lost title to those goods or lost out to secured financiers in a priority dispute.   

In Re John Pettit Pty Limited (Subject to a Deed of Company Arrangement) [2014] NSWSC 728, the Supreme Court of NSW considered an application by the deed administrators of John Pettit Pty Ltd (John Pettit) seeking directions to sell property potentially owned by third parties and orders which limited the Deed Administrators’ personal liability in relation to the sale.

BACKGROUND

The Federal Court decision of Crumpler (as liquidator and joint representative) of Global Tradewaves Ltd (a company registered in the British Virgin Islands) v Global Tradewaves (in liquidation), in the matter of Global Tradewaves Ltd (in liquidation)[2013] FCA 1127 provides an illustrative example of the way that cross border insolvency recognition can be used to aid a foreign administration.

Facts

In the recent decision of ASIC v ActiveSuper Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] FCA 234 (ActiveSuper), the Federal Court considered an application by ASIC brought pursuant to s 472(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act) to appoint provisional liquidators to a company MOGS Pty Ltd (MOGS).

This week’s TGIF considers Arnautovic v Qaqour [2022] FCA 726 in which the Federal Court of Australia ordered a director of a company in liquidation to surrender his passport and prohibited him from travelling outside of NSW without the Court’s prior consent.

Key takeaways

This week’s TGIF examines the decision of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in In the matter of Jana Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 112, considering whether a ‘genuine dispute’ exists  in relation to a debt claimed in a statutory demand where the debt arises from a poorly drafted deed.

Key Takeaways

This week’s TGIF considers the recent ruling of the Federal Court of Australia in Tuscan Capital Partners Pty Ltd v Trading Australia Pty Ltd (in liq)[2021] FCA 1061, where a liquidator’s decision to accept a ‘proof of debt’ was successfully challenged due to a lack of evidence that

Unlike the GFC, which was essentially a liquidity crisis, Australia is likely to face a gradual increase in business insolvencies, rather than the feared ‘insolvency cliff’, as the Federal Government’s COVID-19 stimulus measures are wound down at the end of March.

This week’s TGIF looks at the NSW Supreme Court’s recent guidance on factors relevant to whether a winding up ought be terminated.

Key takeaways