Ford (Administrator), in the matter of The PAS Group Limited (Administrators Appointed) v Scentre Management Limited [2020] FCA 1023

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Ford (Administrator), in the matter of The PAS Group Limited (Administrators Appointed) v Scentre Management Limited [2020] FCA 1023 File number(s): VID 432 of 2020

Judge(s): O'CALLAGHAN J

Date of judgment: 21 July 2020

Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – where administrators continued to use and occupy leased premises to carry on companies' businesses after appointment – whether rent in respect of "standstill period" when administrators not personally liable under s 443B(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) would fall within s 556(1)(a) in a liquidation – application of principle derived from Re Lundy Granite Co; Ex parte Heavan (1871) LR 6 Ch App 462

Legislation: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 443A, 443B, 443B(2), 447A, 556, 556(1), 556(1)(a), Sch 2 s 90-15 Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 (UK) Insolvency Rules 1986 (UK) rr 2.67(1), 4.218, 12.2(1)

Cases cited: Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564 Ansett Australia Ground Staff Superannuation Plan Pty Ltd v Ansett Australia Ltd [2002] VSC 576; 174 FLR 1 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Letten (No 13) [2011] FCA 1151; 86 ACSR 174 Carson v Humphreys (1931) 44 CLR 480 Grapecorp Management Pty Ltd (in liq) v Grape Exchange Management Euston Pty Ltd [2012] VSC 112; 265 FLR 33 Jervis v Pillar Denton Ltd [2015] Ch 87 Re Gunns Plantations Ltd (No 1) [2012] VSC 655 Re Lundy Granite Co; Ex parte Heavan (1871) LR 6 Ch App 462 Re Mesco Properties Ltd [1979] 1 WLR 558 Re Mineral Resources Ltd [1999] 1 All ER 746 Re Toshoku Finance UK plc [2002] UKHL 6; 1 WLR 671 Strawbridge (Administrator), in the matter of CBCH Group Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2020] FCA 472 Timbercorp Securities Ltd (in liq) v Plantation Land Ltd [2009] FCA 741; 72 ACSR 620