Re Ocean Tankers (Pte) Ltd (in liquidation) [2023] SGHC 330

The Singapore High Court recently ruled on issues relating to the assignability of claims, coverage of non-assignment clause and insolvency set-off.

Facts

Investment funds in Singapore are typically constituted as companies, unit trusts or limited partnerships. This is set to change with the advent of a new fund vehicle, the Variable Capital Company ("VCC"). The VCC is now an alternative, after the commencement of the Variable Capital Companies Act 2018 ("VCC Act") on 14 January 2020. This update focuses on the considerations a financier may wish to take note of when financing a VCC.

What is a VCC?

In a recent decision Peh Yeng Yok v Tembusu Systems Pte Ltd (formerly known  as  Tembusu Terminals Pte Ltd) and others [2016] SGHC 36, Judicial Commissioner Chua Lee Ming, sitting in the High Court, elaborated on the standard required to justify a search order (also known as an Anton Piller order). The Court emphasised in particular, that the onus was on the party seeking the search order to  show that  there is  a  real  possibility that the defendants will otherwise destroy documents that are relevant to the proceedings.

In Chan Siew Lee Jannie v Australia and  New  Zealand Banking Group  Ltd  [2016] SGCA 23,  the Singapore Court of Appeal was faced with the issue of whether a statutory demand issued to a guarantor would be deemed defective and liable to be set aside if it did not include the details of a pledge given by the  principal debtor.

Applicability of the Doctrine of Anticipatory Breach to Executed Contracts

In a rare appeal before five judges in the Singapore Court of Appeal, two questions of great practical significance pertaining to contract law were authoritatively and definitively answered:-