Clearing up the cloud? Perhaps partly, as the Court of Final Appeal affirms the approach to dismissing bankruptcy proceedings in favour of the parties’ agreed forum

10 May, 2023
If a debt arises from a contract that contains an exclusive jurisdiction clause (EJC) in favour of a foreign court, how will the Hong Kong court deal with a bankruptcy petition based on that debt? A highly anticipated judgment from Hong Kong’s highest court suggests that the bankruptcy petition will likely be dismissed, and that … Read more

It still counts: Hong Kong Court finds minority shareholding has reasonable possibility to benefit winding-up petitioner

11 October, 2021
It is well-established that certain core jurisdictional requirements must normally be met before a Hong Kong Court will exercise its discretion to wind up a foreign company (Core Jurisdictional Requirements). These were explained in our previous post: there must be a sufficient connection with Hong Kong, but this does not necessarily have to consist in … Read more

Hong Kong to Introduce Corporate Rescue Regime and Insolvency Trading Regime

14 December, 2020
After abortive attempts in 2000-2001, 2008-2009, and 2014 to introduce a statutory corporate rescue procedure, the Hong Kong Government has recently announced in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council that it will present the Companies (Corporate Rescue) Bill (the “Bill”) to the Legislative Council in early 2021. Once enacted, the Bill will introduce a … Read more

Good faith in bad times

25 September, 2020
Can a good faith obligation under PRC law preclude a party from bringing a winding up petition in Hong Kong? A recent Hong Kong Court of First Instance suggests not. In Harbor Prosper (HK) Investments Ltd v. Elegant Profit (Hong Kong) Ltd [2020] HKCFI 2261, the respondent to a winding up petition argued that it … Read more

Hong Kong Court continues to recognise and assist Mainland insolvency proceedings

08 June, 2020
The recent decision in Re The Liquidator of Shenzhen Everich Supply Chain Co, Ltd (in liquidation in the People’s Republic of China) [2020] HKCFI 965 reaffirms the willingness of the Hong Kong Companies Court (the “Companies Court”) to recognise the winding-up of a company in Mainland China and thereby grant recognition and assistance to liquidators … Read more

Singapore Court of Appeal introduces a lower standard of review for debtors defending a disputed debt that is subject to an arbitration agreement

21 April, 2020
In AnAn Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd v VTB Bank (Public Joint Stock Company) [2020] SGCA 33, Justice Steven Chong, delivering the judgment of the Court, (1) overturned the decision of the High Court which allowed a creditor (VTB Bank) to proceed with its winding up petition against a debtor (AnAn), and (2) upheld the arbitration … Read more