Taking decisions to liquidate companies has become a matter of routine when optimising corporate structures to improve cost efficiency. Increasingly, we see that such decisions have been taken either prematurely or without taking all of the relevant factors into account.

In October 2009 the Greek airline, Olympic Airlines SA ("OA"), entered "special liquidation" in Greece after the European Commission ordered it to repay illegal state aid from the Greek Government. OA employed about 27 employees in the UK, who participated in an occupational pension scheme. In June 2010 OA's liquidator informed the scheme's trustees that the UK employees' employment would be terminated and that pension contributions would cease from July 2010.

Starting from 22 September 2012, the beneficial owners (aka controllers), substantial shareholders, and senior executive officers of Ukrainian commercial banks could face personal financial liability for the insolvency of banks during liquidation. 

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has issued the first regulation on the dissolution, liquidation and bankruptcy of insurance companies. On 11 December 2015, enacted Regulation No. 28/POJK.05/2015 on Dissolution, Liquidation and Bankruptcy of Insurance Companies, Syariah Insurance Companies, Reinsurance Companies and Syariah Reinsurance Companies (POJK 28). Before the enactment of  POJK 28 there was no regulation within the vicinity of the insurance law on matter.

The Productivity Commission published its final report on Business Set-up, Transfer and Closure on 7 December 2015. A copy of the final report is available here.

The final report recommends a number of changes to Australia's corporate insolvency laws and follows public consultation on the Productivity Commission's draft report released in May 2015.

Introduction

On 1 July 2015, the Commonwealth Government launched the Fair Entitlements Guarantee Recovery Programme for an initial period of two years. The purpose of the Recovery Programme is to increase the prospects of the Commonwealth recovering amounts it has paid to former employees of companies in liquidation pursuant to the Fair Entitlements Guarantee Scheme[1]. 

The Hong Kong court in Re The Joint Liquidators of Supreme Tycoon Limited (in liquidation in the British Virgin Islands) (08/02/2018, HCMP833/2017), [2018] HKCFI 277 (Re Supreme Tycoon) has, for the first time, granted recognition and assistance to foreign liquidators appointed in a creditors' voluntary winding-up.

Update on Liquidator remuneration post-Sakr1

Key points summary

Following the recent high-profile appeal decision2, the Supreme Court of New South Wales has now finalised the saga that was the review and approval of the remuneration of the Liquidator of Sakr Nominees.

From that decision emerge several key points for insolvency professionals when considering their remuneration:

Boart Longyear – the recent appeal decision

On 7 April 2017, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed a decree (the Decree) approving significant amendments to the Law On Banks dated 16 January 2004 (the Amendments) and relating to local banks experiencing financial difficulties.

Financial Rehabilitation