The spate of insolvencies in the NSW construction sector shows no signs of easing. On 24 October 2013, the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act Amendment Bill 2013 was introduced into Parliament. The Bill is part of the government’s broader reform package to address the level of insolvency being experienced in the NSW construction sector.

Voluntary administrators frequently obtain Court orders permitting notices to be issued to creditors electronically. Such orders are made under section 447A of the Corporations Act (the Act) on grounds of efficiency, cost and necessity. See Mothercare Australia Ltd (Administrators Appointed) [2013] NSWSC 263 and Creative Memories Australia Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 1294.

A creditor of a company subject to a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) was recently successful in seeking termination of the DOCA by the court. As a result of the company's non-compliance with the DOCA, the majority of creditors resolved to extend the term of the DOCA and increase the amount to be paid by the company. The applicant creditor alleged that the DOCA should be terminated because the company had failed to make payment in accordance with it, and the variation had not taken effect.

The Court made an order terminating the DOCA on the grounds that:

In the matter of Maiden Civil (P&E) Pty Ltd; Richard Albarran and Blair Alexander Pleash as receivers and managers of Maiden Civil (P&E) Pty Ltd & Ors v Queensland Excavation Services Pty Ltd & Ors [2013] NSWSC 852

Overview

The recent Supreme Court of New South Wales decision of In the matter of Octaviar Administration Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2013] NSWSC 786 confirms that liquidators must notify all interested parties prior to seeking an extension for the period in which to bring preference actions.  For the first time, the Court has confirmed that the directors of the insolvent company are “interested persons” in cases where a liquidator intends to pursue the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) over potential preferential payments based solely on the potential for the ATO to

In an important decision for the large number of discretionary trusts in Australia, the Supreme Court of New South Wales has considered whether a family trust structure is a sufficiently robust firewall to protect the family trust assets against claims by a trustee in bankruptcy appointed to the personal Trustee or Appointor of a family trust.

The decision is Lewis v Condon; Condon v Lewis [2013] NSWCA 204 which was handed down on 4 July 2013 by the Court of Appeal.

The importance of notifications to potential defendants and directors of the insolvent company

The decision in Re Octaviar Administration Pty Ltd (in liq) [2013] NSWSC 786 highlights two key issues for insolvency practitioners:

The decision of Austino Wentworthville Pty Ltd v Metroland Australia Limited & Ors [2013] NSWCA 59 was an appeal brought by Austino against Metroland and its voluntary administrator Mr Levi (“Levi”) to amend a proof of debt for the purpose of voting at a meeting of creditors in a voluntary administration.

The decision is relevant to insolvency practitioners who act as voluntary administrators in assessing voting entitlements in the voluntary administration process in addition to creditors who offer assets as security to obtain finance.

Background

The recent New South Wales Supreme Court (Court) decision in Plaza West Pty Ltd (in liquidation) (subject to a deed of company arrangement) [2013] NSWSC 168 involved an application to terminate the winding up of a company subject to a deed of company arrangement (DOCA) and emphasised the importance of comprehensive reports from the company’s administrators and experts, in deciding that application.

Background

Case Note: Re Cardinia Nominees Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 32

Facts of the case

Cardinia Nominees Pty Ltd (Cardinia) agreed to lend Inika Pty Ltd (Inika) the sum of $750,000, in exchange for the issue of convertible bonds to Cardinia. The loan was secured by a charge in favour of Cardinia over the whole of Inika’s assets.