Summary

The Hong Kong Court and the US Bankruptcy Court have made conflicting comments regarding the discharge of New York law-governed debt by a foreign scheme of arrangement, where that scheme is the subject of recognition under Chapter 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code.

Introduction

Businesses are increasingly spreading their footprint across jurisdictions, be it through the diversified locations of their assets or operations. What this means is that, if and when the need to resolve financial distress arises, such businesses may need to select a forum that will serve as an effective base for the management of the cross-border legal issues.

BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING REVIEW VOL. 21 • NO. 5 SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2022 1 IN THIS ISSUE 1 Texas District Court: Bankruptcy Sale Break-Up Fee Satisfied Both Business Judgment Test and Administrative Expense Standard 2 Lawyer Spotlight: Gregory M.

©Anderson Mori & Tomotsune 2022 年 9 月 1．【メキシコ】倒産事件処理のための特別裁判所の新設 1. はじめに 2022 年 3 月 4 日、倒産事件を特別に管轄する 2 つの裁判所がいずれもメキシコシティに新設され1 、既に運 用されている。 本稿ではメキシコの倒産法と従前より倒産事件を管轄してきた裁判所について簡潔に説明し、上記の新たな 倒産裁判所の概要と倒産法制上の意味合いを解説する。 2. メキシコの倒産法について メキシコの倒産法は、連邦法である Ley de Concursos Mercantiles （以下「メキシコ倒産法」または「法」とす る。）である。日本法と異なり、破産手続も民事再生手続も単独の法律により定められている。メキシコ倒産法は 2 段階方式を採用している2 。すなわち、原則として、第 1 段階として再生手続(conciliación)が開始され、第 2 段階 として破産手続(quiebra)が開始されうる建付けとなっている3。その目的規定においても、債務超過企業の再建 を図ることの重要性が強調されている4 。

What is a Bankruptcy Petition?

A bankruptcy petition, put simply, is a petition to the Court to ask for a bankruptcy order against an individual and is usually presented on the grounds that the debtor cannot pay his/her debts. A bankruptcy order can result in the debtor’s assets being sold in order to repay outstanding creditors.

It often follows a statutory demand if you have not complied with that or otherwise sought to set it aside.

Can anyone petition for a debt?

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has on 21 September 2022 released the Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 (Bill) which consolidates and amends the Indian Telegraph Act 1885, Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933, and The Telegraph Wires, (Unlawful Protection) Act 1950. In Chapter 5 (Restructuring, Defaults in Payment and Insolvency), the Bill addresses situations wherein payment defaults or insolvency proceedings have been initiated against a telecommunication company (Telco or Corporate Debtor).

With administration figures creeping back up after falling to low levels during the pandemic, the number of pre-pack sales of businesses in administration also appears to be on the increase. In such transactions, a purchaser acquires all, or substantially all, of the business and assets of the insolvent company from the administrator, with the terms of the deal being agreed pre-appointment and completion usually taking place immediately after the administrator takes office.

Foreign insolvency proceedings (including those ordered by the UK courts) have no direct operation in Guernsey. Therefore foreign insolvency office holders looking to take steps in Guernsey, such a collecting in assets or compelling the production of information from third parties, will need to first be recognised under Guernsey law before steps can be taken in this jurisdiction.

Guernsey has not introduced legislation based on the UNCITRAL model law on cross-border insolvency. It is also not (and was not prior to Brexit) subject to the Recast Insolvency Regulations.

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the conflict between the countries that began in 2014. The invasion by Russia was swiftly followed by international condemnation and a raft of sanctions which imposed financial, trade and other restrictions on Russia.

The effect of a liquidation order is to crystallise an insolvent company’s position in time and to ensure that no further transactions can be concluded by that entity. In other words, once a company is in liquidation and the concursus has occurred, no creditor may exercise its rights against that company in a manner prejudicial to other creditors.

This is a well-established principle of South African law, but what does it mean for a security taker wishing to, by agreement with the insolvent company, rectify a written agreement concluded prior to liquidation?