The recent flurry of news reports regarding the administration of high street retail chains and the subsequent sale of parts of their businesses is perhaps an opportune time to flag up the renewed importance that the hypothec plays in Scottish property law.

By virtue of the hypothec, in insolvency, a landlord automatically obtains a fixed charge ranking on the proceeds of sale of the moveable goods of the tenant that are on the premises as at the point of insolvency, up to the value of any arrears of rent.

An English rugby club (an unincorporated association of its members) engaged the services of Barnes Webster & Sons (BWS), a construction company. The club’s treasurer signed the contract, which was witnessed by Davies, the club’s president. The club agreed to pay BWS a fixed price plus additional amounts for certain variations in the work, should they arise. The variations were required, but the club did not pay the £147,000 bill for them that BWS presented. BWS made a demand on Davies personally, which he moved to set aside.

On October 31, 2011 (the “Petition Date”), MF Global, which up to that point had been one of the world’s largest broker/dealer firms, was plunged into insolvency on both sides of the pond. On the Petition Date, MF Global Holdings, Ltd. and MF Global Finance USA, Inc. (the “US Debtors”) each filed voluntary bankruptcy petitions under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Contemporaneously with the U.S. bankruptcy filings, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation initiated the liquidation of MF Global, Inc., the U.S.

One exception to the otherwise far-reaching scope of the automatic stay is the “police power” exception, which permits a governmental unit to commence or continue an action or proceeding that is in furtherance of its police and regulatory powers (section 362(b)(4) of the Bankruptcy Code). In the past, bankruptcy courts have held that the “police power” exception extends to actions taken by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the agency charged with protecting pension benefits in private-sector defined pension plans.

The Court of Appeal has held in the recent case of Spaceright Europe Ltd v Baillavoine and another (2011) that a dismissal can be for “a reason connected with the transfer” under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (“TUPE”) even if there is no particular transfer or transferee in existence or contemplation at the time of the dismissal. In the case Mr Baillavoine, the Chief Executive of Ultralon Holdings Ltd (“Ultralon”), was dismissed on the day Ultralon was placed into administration.

The First-tier Tribunal has issued its decision in the case ofM Gilbert (t/a United Foods) v HMRC, one of the first cases concerning a claim for entrepreneurs' relief to reach the First-tier Tribunal. The Tribunal was asked to decide whether a taxpayer had disposed of part of his business or, as HMRC argued, simply sold some of the assets used to carry on the business.

A common fact in any transaction, is the effect of human relations, daily life and commercial realities. The legal do's and don'ts are often overtaken by practicalities. An example is a need for a tenant to enter into occupation of premises.

The recent case of Mann Aviation Group (Engineering) Ltd (in Administration) v Longmint Aviation Limited Ltd dealt with the rights of an occupier going into possession of premises and paying rent, but without any form of written lease or licence.

Kookmin Bank v Rainy Sky SA & Others

[2011] UKSC 50

We covered this case back in Issue 120. The case has now reached the Supreme Court where the decision of the Court of Appeal was overturned. In doing so, Lord Clarke adopted the interpretation of the bond which was most consistent with business common sense.

Summary and implications

This note provides a short summary of receivership and covers some of the most frequently asked questions. The note is intended to be a general overview and specific advice should be taken in individual cases.

The appointment of a receiver is one of the formal enforcement options typically available to lenders who have security over property assets situated in England and Wales. The receiver’s job is to realise those assets and use the proceeds to discharge the debt due to the charge-holder.

Limited liability is not complete protection for directors and they must carefully consider their actions and, indeed, failures to act in order to avoid “piercing the corporate veil”.  Directors may be ordered to contribute to the assets of the company even where they have not acted dishonestly.