Historically, the Hong Kong courts have generally recognised foreign insolvency proceedings commenced in the jurisdiction in which the company is incorporated. This may no longer be the case in Hong Kong following the recent decision of Provisional Liquidator of Global Brands Group Holding Ltd v Computershare Hong Kong Trustees Ltd [2022] HKCFI 1789 (Global Brands). … Read more

The global market in crypto assets is currently experiencing a “crypto winter”, losing approximately US$2 trillion in value since the peak rally in 2021.[1] The price of Bitcoin has retreated approximately 70% from its November 2021 high of nearly US$69,000. In this stormy environment crypto insolvencies are on the rise. However the rapidly evolving nature … Read more

With a tightening market for capital, the ‘safe harbour’ protections may be critical for Australian startups and scaleups who are unsure if they can raise more capital within their current cash runway or who need to raise through debt securities like convertible notes. Relying on ‘safe harbour’ shouldn’t be seen as an admission of failure … Read more

On 6 June 2022, Mr Justice Harris sanctioned a Hong Kong scheme of arrangement for Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Group (the Company) in re Rare Earth Magnesium Technology Limited [2022] HKFCI 1686 (Rare Earth). In some obiter remarks made in the course of that decision, Harris J suggested that a common restructuring practice might not … Read more

The Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal has taken a practical approach in interpreting the second core requirement, out of three needed, for a Hong Kong Court to exercise its discretion to wind up a foreign company. Bringing much relief to creditors, it has decided that commercial pressure to achieve repayment of a debt is … Read more

Last week, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal refused to grant liquidators (the Liquidators) of Galleria (Hong Kong) Limited (Galleria), a Hong Kong company, leave to appeal to the Court of Final Appeal in relation to their action against one of Galleria’s former lenders (the Bank) for knowing receipt, dishonest assistance and fraudulent trading. The … Read more

We previously wrote about the Court’s attitude to liquidators’ applications for directions on matters arising in a compulsory winding up (i.e., by the court) under section 200 of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, Cap. 32 (CWUMPO) (see our articles here and here). For voluntary winding ups, a similar provision, being section 255 of CWUMPO, applies. … Read more

The first case has been decided under Australia’s statutory powers to set aside “creditor defeating dispositions”.  In IntelliComms Pty Ltd (in liq) [2022] VSC 228 Associate Justice Gardiner of the Victorian Supreme Court considered a transaction involving a business sale agreement entered into minutes before Intellicomms Pty Ltd (Intellicomms) passed a resolution to enter into … Read more