In brief - Courts identify three circumstances for ordering priority repayments

In the recent decision, In the matter of Mirabela Nickel Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) [2014] NSWSC 836, the NSW Supreme Court has granted leave to the deed administrators under section 444GA of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act) to transfer 98.2% of the existing shares of Mirabela Nickel Ltd (Mirabela) to unsecured creditors without the consent of its shareholders.

FACTS

A statutory demand is normally the first step that is taken by a creditor in the winding up of a company on the grounds of insolvency. 

The process of serving a statutory demand, and any subsequent winding up proceedings, can be an effective and legitimate process used by creditors to recover amounts owed by a debtor company (company).[1]

Obtain advice before you lodge a proof of debt or vote in a liquidation

Secured creditors should remember that submitting a proof of debt and voting in a liquidation may result in the loss of their security if they get it wrong.

The Supreme Court of New South Wales has delivered a timely reminder to secured creditors of a company in liquidation, where the secured creditor lost its security because it submitted a proof of debt for the full amount of its debt and voted on a poll at a creditor’s meeting for its full debt.

The recent decision of the Federal Court in the matter of Divitkos, in the matter of ExDVD Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) [2014] FCA 696 confirms that where a receiver is required to make a payment under Section 433 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Act) to a priority creditor (such as employee entitlements), the secured creditor (who appointed the receiver) may be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of that priority creditor in the winding up of the company.

The Law

In brief

The recent decision of Divitkos, In the matter of Ex DVD Pty Ltd (In liquidation) has paved the way for secured creditors who pay employee entitlements out of secured assets to receive a priority for that payment from preference claims recovered in a subsequent liquidation.

Summary

Secured creditors should not allow a liquidator to sell a secured asset without first:

In brief

The decision Akers as a joint foreign representative of Saad Investments Company Limited (in Official Liquidation) v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2014] FCAFC 57 demonstrates that Australian Courts may be willing to depart from the philosophical basis for cross border insolvency in order to protect the interests of Australian based creditors.

Background

When the liquidator of a company comes knocking on a creditor’s door, it is to echoes of "Queue jumper!" reverberating in the background. 

Essentially, one of a liquidator's first tasks when appointed is to identify whether any creditors have been given 'preferential  treatment' - that is, whether they have been paid some or all of their debt just prior to the company's liquidation and at the expense of other creditors.