FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Allstate IT Pty Limited (Administrators Appointed), in the matter of Allstate IT Pty Limited (Administrators Appointed) [2011] FCA 788 Citation: Allstate IT Pty Limited (Administrators Appointed), in the matter of Allstate IT Pty Limited (Administrators Appointed) [2011] FCA 788 Parties: ALLSTATE IT PTY LIMITED (ADMINISTRATORS APPOINTED) (ACN 050 041 837) File number: NSD 1102 of 2011 Judge: EMMETT J Date of judgment: 6 July 2011 Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 439A Date of hearing: 6 July 2011 Place: Sydney Division: GENERAL DIVISION Category: No catchwords Number of paragraphs: 5 Solicitor for the plaintiff: L Roccisano of William Roberts Lawyers IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY GENERAL DIVISION NSD 1102 of 2011 IN THE MATTER OF ALLSTATE IT PTY LIMITED (ADMINISTRATORS APPOINTED) (ACN 050 041 837) ALLSTATE IT PTY LIMITED (ADMINISTRATORS APPOINTED) (ACN 050 041 837) JUDGE: EMMETT J DATE OF ORDER: 6 JULY 2011 WHERE MADE: SYDNEY THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. Pursuant to section 439A(6) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the end of the convening period in respect of Allstate IT Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) (ACN 050 041 837) be extended from 7 July 2011 to 13 July 2011. 2. The costs of the originating process be paid out of the assets of Allstate IT Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) (ACN 050 041 837). Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules. The text of entered orders can be located using Federal Law Search on the Court's website. IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY GENERAL DIVISION NSD 1102 of 2011 IN THE MATTER OF ALLSTATE IT PTY LIMITED (ADMINISTRATORS APPOINTED) (ACN 050 041 837) ALLSTATE IT PTY LIMITED (ADMINISTRATORS APPOINTED) (ACN 050 041 837) JUDGE: EMMETT J DATE: 6 JULY 2011 PLACE: SYDNEY REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 The plaintiff, Mr Robert Whitton, was appointed administrator of Allstate IT Pty Ltd (the Company) on 8 June 2011 under s 436A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the Act). The convening period under s 439A(5)(b) of the Act for the second meeting of creditors of the Company will expire on 7 July 2011. Mr Whitton now seeks an extension of the convening period. 2 Mr Whitton was informed by the directors of the Company that a proposal for entry into of a deed of company arrangement would be submitted to him immediately after his appointment on 8 June 2011. Mr Whitton will be absent from Australia from today until Friday, 15 July 2011 on annual leave. That absence was arranged some nine months ago, well in advance of his appointment as administrator of the Company. He would have had sufficient time to consider a possible proposal for a deed of company arrangement to be propounded by the directors of the Company, to prepare his report and statements to the creditors under s 439A(4), and to give notice of and convene the second meeting of creditors prior to his departure on leave, if he had received the proposal immediately after his appointment. Hence, it was his expectation that the second meeting of creditors would be held within the convening period prescribed by the s 439A of the Act. 3 However, Mr Whitton did not receive a proposal from the directors until 1 July 2011. As a consequence, he has not had sufficient time to attend to all of his obligations under s 439A prior to his departure on leave. He has had the opportunity of considering the proposal and has formed the opinions required under s 439A(4) of the Act. He has drafted a report and statements accordingly. Those documents will, pursuant to s 439(4), be sent to the Company's creditors no later than the close of business on 7 July 2011. 4 Mr Whitton has given notice to the Company's creditors of his intention to make this application. That notice was sent on 5 July 2011. To date, no response has been received. The application presently before me is to extend the convening period so that it will expire on 13 July 2011. Mr Whitton's intention is that the second meeting of creditors will then be convened upon his return from absence on 18 July 2011. He will then be able to preside at the meeting, as the Act requires. 5 The extension of the convening period is not to be given as a matter of course. There must be some valid reason for departure from the strict time frame specified by the Act. In all the circumstances, I consider that it is appropriate to accede to Mr Whitton's application. I certify that the preceding five (5) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Emmett. Associate: Dated: 18 July 2011