In the matter of Bicher & Son Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 711

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of Bicher & Son Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 711 Hearing dates: 30 April 2020, 5-7 May 2020; 13 May 2020, 19 May 2020. Decision date: 09 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity - Corporations List Before: Black J Decision: Proceedings to be dismissed. Parties to provide orders including as to costs. Catchwords: CORPORATIONS — Members' rights and remedies — Oppression — Whether conduct is oppressive to, unfairly prejudicial to, or unfairly discriminatory — Where company has ceased practice of cash payments of wages that contributed to tax non-compliance — Where other alleged grounds of oppression not established by Plaintiff.

CORPORATIONS — Members' rights and remedies — Whether winding up on just and equitable grounds should be ordered — Where court ordered winding up is not in public interest — Whether court should order one shareholder to buyout the other — Buyout not appropriate where both parties participated in cash payments leading to tax non-compliance. Legislation Cited: - Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 232, 233, 461, 467 - Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) Cases Cited: - Accurate Financial Consultants Pty Ltd v Koko Black Pty Ltd (2008) 66 ACSR 325 - Asia Pacific Joint Mining Pty Ltd v Allways Resources Holdings Pty Ltd [2018] QCA 048; (2018) 125 ACSR 227 - Australian Securities and Investments Commission v ABC Funds Managers Ltd [2001] VSC 383; (2001) 39 ACSR 443 - Australian Securities and Investments Commission v ActiveSuper Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] FCA 234 - Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Kingsley Brown Properties Pty Ltd [2005] VSC 506 - Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Stone Assets Management Pty Ltd [2012] FCA 630; (2012) 90 ACSR 523 - Fexuto Pty Ltd v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 97; (2001) 37 ACSR 672 - Guerinoni v Argyle Concrete & Quarry Supplies Pty Ltd (2000) 34 ACSR 469 - Morgan v 45 Flers Avenue Pty Ltd (1986) 10 ACLR 692 - Munstermann v Rayward [2017] NSWSC 133 - Nassar v Innovative Precasters Group Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 342; (2009) 71 ACSR 343 - Re AJ Roberts Removals and Storage Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1054 - Re ICB Medical Distributors Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1315 - Re Pure Nature Sydney Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 914 - Tomanovic v Argyle HQ Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 152 - Tomanovic v Global Mortgage Equity Corporation Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 104; (2011) 84 ACSR 121 - Wayde v New South Wales Rugby League Ltd [1985] HCA 68; (1985) 180 CLR 459 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paul Pellarini (Plaintiff/Cross Defendant) Bicher & Son Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Nicolae Bicher (Second Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: C Harris SC (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) R Newlinds SC/R Francois (Second Defendant/Cross-Claimant)