In the matter of ACN 613 909 596 Pty Ltd (formerly Minle Wine Negociants of Australia Pty Ltd) (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) [2023] NSWSC 753

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of ACN 613 909 596 Pty Ltd (formerly Minle Wine Negociants of Australia Pty Ltd) (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) [2023] NSWSC 753 Hearing dates: 20 and 22 June 2023 Decision date: 03 July 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Corporations List Before: Black J Decision: Deed of Company Arrangement terminated. First Defendant wound up in insolvency. Fourth Defendant to pay Plaintiffs' costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: CORPORATIONS — Voluntary administration — Deed of company arrangement — Terminating deed of company arrangement under s 447A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) — Terminating deed of company arrangement under s 445D(1)(e)-(g) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) — Deed of company arrangement only supported by creditors related to or associated with company or its director — Company ceased operations prior to entry into deed of company arrangement — No evidence operations would recommence — Whether deed of company arrangement an abuse of process of Pt 5.3A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Legislation Cited: - Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), Pt 5.3A, ss 439A, 445D(1)(e)-(g), 446AA, 447A, 491 - Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 136 Cases Cited: - Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Midland Hwy Pty Ltd (admin apptd) (2015) 110 ACSR 203; [2015] FCA 1360 - Bathurst City Council v Event Management Specialist Pty Ltd (2001) 36 ACSR 732; [2001] NSWSC 34 - Bidald Consulting Pty Ltd v Miles Special Builders Pty Ltd (2005) 226 ALR 510; [2005] NSWSC 1235 - Blacktown City Council v Macarthur Telecommunications Pty Ltd (2003) 47 ACSR 391; [2003] NSWSC 883 - Bovis Lend Lease Pty Ltd v Wily (2003) 45 ACSR 612; [2003] NSWSC 467 - Britax Childcare Pty Ltd (ACN 006 773 600) v Infa Products Pty Ltd (ACN 092 222 994) (admins apptd) (2016) 115 ACSR 322; [2016] FCA 848- Cresvale Far East Ltd (in liq) v Cresvale Securities Ltd (2001) 37 ACSR 394; [2001] NSWSC 89 - Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Portinex (2000) 34 ACSR 391 - Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v TMPL Pty Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) (No 3) (2011) 289 ALR 69; [2011] FCA 1403 - Fleet Broadband Holdings Pty Ltd v Paradox Digital Pty Ltd (2005) 228 ALR 598; [2005] WASC 261 - Grocon Constructors Pty Ltd v Kimberley Securities Ltd (admins apptd) (2009) 72 ACSR 305; [2009] NSWSC 541 - Guo v Song; Re SG Capricorn Investments Pty Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) [2018] NSWSC 12 - Habrok (Dalgaranga) Pty Ltd v Gascoyne Resources Ltd (2020) 149 ACSR 1; [2020] FCA 1395 - JA Pty Ltd v Jonco Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 33 ACSR 691; [2000] NSWSC 147 - Joseph Khoury & Sons v Zambena Pty Ltd (1999) 217 ALR 527; [1999] NSWCA 402 - Kirwan v Cresvale Far East Ltd (in liq) (2002) 44 ACSR 21; [2002] NSWCA 395 - Mondello Farms Pty Ltd v Annatom Pty Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) (2007) 64 ACSR 91; [2007] SASC 296 - Public Trustee (Qld) v Octaviar Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) (recs and mgrs apptd) (2009) 73 ACSR 139; [2009] QSC 202 - Re Citadel Financial Corporation Pty Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) [2020] NSWSC 886 - Re Hayes Steel Framing Systems Pty Ltd (admins apptd) [2017] NSWSC 385 - Re Pilot Advisory Pty Ltd (2019) 141 ACSR 458; [2019] FCA 2171 - Re Recycling Holdings Pty Ltd (2015) 107 ACSR 406; [2015] NSWSC 1016 - Re Sales Express Pty Ltd (admins apptd) [2014] NSWSC 460 - Re SBL Solutions Pty Ltd (subject to a deed of company arrangement) [2021] NSWSC 1002 - University of Sydney v Australian Photonics Pty Ltd (subject to deed of company arrangement) (2005) 53 ACSR 579; [2005] NSWSC 412 - Vero Insurance Ltd v Kassem [2011] NSWCA 381 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Monoova Global Payments Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) ACN 613 909 596 Pty Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) (First Defendant) Michael Hogan as deed administrator of ACN 613 909 596 Pty Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) (Second Defendant) Brendan Copeland as deed administrator of ACN 613 909 596 Pty Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) (Third Defendant) Thanh Heip Le (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Foley (Plaintiff) A Jordan (First to Third Defendants) L T Fermanis (Fourth Defendant)