On 6 May 2014, the Ministry of Law ("MinLaw") issued its response to the feedback received from the public consultation on the final report (the "final report") of the Insolvency Law Review Committee (the "Committee") in relation to proposed recommendations affecting Singapore's personal and corporate insolvency regimes.
Singapore’s Court of Appeal has just laid down guidance on how professionals should approach their fee engagements with clients.1 The judgment reveals an expectation of strict adherence to the terms of the letter of engagement. It also serves as an admonishment to retain a detailed inventory of the work done.
Background
As part of the Singapore Budget 2013, the Ministry of Law has proposed a major review of Singapore's bankruptcy and insolvency regime, with a particular focus on making it easier to discharge personal bankruptcies due to business failure or unsecured consumer credit.
The Insolvency Law Reform Committee will also be finalizing its report on the Omnibus Insolvency Bill soon. This Bill is intended to address certain perceived weaknesses in the existing personal bankruptcy and corporate insolvency mechanisms, resulting in a better and more efficient regime.
The defendant in this case was the liquidator of Kaki Bukit Industrial Park Pte Ltd (“Company”).
On April 1, 2012 Drydocks World LLC (DDW) and its subsidiary Drydocks World — Dubai LLC (DDW Dubai), a Dubai- and Asia-based ship building and repair company that is wholly owned by Dubai World, became the first company to commence a reorganization proceeding in the Special Tribunal1 (the Tribunal) created by Dubai Decree No. 57 for 2009 (Decree 57) and avail itself of Decree 57’s integrated legal framework.
Facts
The plaintiff (“Mdm Cheo”) commenced divorce proceedings against her husband (“the bankrupt”) two weeks after she knew that the latter had been served a statutory demand by a bank to pay around US$8.67 million.
Global Distressed Alpha Fund I Ltd Partnership v Integrated Financial Advisory Ltd [2012] SGHC 152.
Assenagon Asset Management S.A. v Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited (formerly Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Limited) [2012] EWHC 2090 (Ch)
The Singapore High Court in Re Lehman Brothers Finance Asia Pte Ltd (in creditors' voluntary liquidation) [2012] SGHC 190 was confronted with the issue of whether debts of a company in a currency other than Singapore Dollars which are admitted in proof by its liquidators should be converted at the exchange rate prevailing on the date on which the company's statutory declaration was lodged, or on the date of the passing of the resolution placing the company in liquidation.
In Re Lehman Brothers Finance Asia Pte Ltd, the liquidators of Lehman Borthers Finance Asia Pte Ltd made an application to court to determine the relevant exchange rate for the conversion of foreign currency debts to Singapore Dollars in creditors' voluntary liquidation ("CVL")