In Re Petrofac Ltd [2025] EWHC 2887 (Ch), the English High Court made an administration order in relation to a Jersey-incorporated company even though its registered office was not in England which is the starting point for determining COMI and therefore the Court’s jurisdiction to make such an order.
Background
Successful outcomes for clients seeking to obtain winding up orders against foreign companies with local agents. The case summaries below, of Re Anagram International LLC (recs and mgrs apptd) [2025] VSC 267 and the earlier matter of W Capital Advisors Pty Ltd (in its capacity as trustee for the W Capital Advisors Fund) v Mawson Infrastructure Group, Inc (NSD1395/2024), provide guidance on how parties can best position themselves for success in these circumstances.
Relevant Law
Harmonising EU insolvency law: colegislators reach agreement on compromise text for a new directive — key changes and what is next 8 DECEMBER 2025 EU insolvency law © A&O Shearman 2 EU directive harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law Overview and status The European Parliament and the Council (the co-legislators) reached political agreement on the proposed Directive harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law on 19 November 2025. The final compromise text was confirmed and circulated in early December 2025.
The EU Mobility Directive (2019/2121 (EU), the Directive) has introduced a harmonised legal framework for cross-border conversions (or redomiciliations), mergers, and demergers within the EU and EEA — offering global companies new flexibility to reshape their European operations. Please see our legal update of December 2022 as well as any of our subsequent country specific insights.
Welcome to the latest edition of the Financial Regulation Weekly Bulletin.
If you would like to discuss in more detail, please contact your relationship partner or email one of our Financial Regulation team.
Developments this week are in relation to:
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In early November 2025 one of the biggest UK’s largest private building control firms Assent Building Control Compliance Limited, along with its subsidiaries Oculus Building Consultancy Limited and LB Building Control Limited, (together “Assent”) ceased trading and subsequently entered liquidation. The collapse of such a major player in the building control sector will likely have wide ramifications throughout the whole construction industry, and particularly for HRB developments and the BSR’s Gateway 2 Application process.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in CL Financial Ltd (in Liquidation)[1] has provided helpful guidance on applications for approving liquidators’ remuneration.