Willis Australia Ltd v AMP Capital Investors Ltd [2023] NSWCA 158

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Willis Australia Ltd v AMP Capital Investors Ltd [2023] NSWCA 158 Hearing dates: 11 May 2023 Date of orders: 11 July 2023 Decision date: 11 July 2023 Before: Ward P; Beech-Jones JA; Griffiths AJA Decision: (1) Pursuant to UCPR r 51.16(1)(c), the date for filing of the notice of appeal be extended to 12 December 2022. (2) Appeal allowed. (3) Declarations 2,3,4 and 5 of the Court below be set aside. (4) Orders 6,8 and 9 of the Court below be set aside. (5) An order that the further amended statement of claim be dismissed. (6) An order by way of restitution against the second respondent for all sums paid by Willis pursuant to order 6(d) of the orders made below. (7) Order that within 14 days hereof the parties seek to agree the sums as referred to in order 6 above. If they cannot agree, each should provide within that time a brief submission of no more than two pages, explaining their position. Final orders will then be made on the papers and without a further oral hearing. (8) The respondents pay the appellant's costs of the appeal and of the proceeding below. Catchwords: CONTRACTS – Option to renew lease – Where conditions said to be waived by lessor – Whether terms amount to conditional contract or irrevocable offer – Whether there is need to resolve issue of conditional contract or irrevocable offer – Where lessee revokes notice given to lessor to exercise option before all contractual conditions performed – Whether lessee bound to exercise option CONTRACTS – Construction – Interpretation – Where variation or waiver must be signed and in writing by party or parties – Whether lessor can unilaterally waive performance of contractual conditions until a later time Cases Cited: Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardener (2008) 238 CLR 570; [2008] HCA 57 Allianz Australia Insurance Limited v Delor Vue Apartments CTS 39788 [2022] HCA 38 AMP Capital Investors Limited v Willis Australia Limited [2022] NSWSC 1415 AMP Capital Investors Limited v Willis Australia Limited (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1552 Bowman v Durham Holdings Pty Ltd (1973) 131 CLR 8; [1973] HCA 55 Braham v Walker (1961) 104 CLR 366 at 376; [1961] HCA 7 BS Stillwell & Co Pty Ltd v Budget Rent-A-Car System Pty Ltd [1990] VR 589 Carter v Hyde (1923) 33 CLR 115; [1923] HCA 36 Commonwealth of Australia v Antonio Giorgio Pty Ltd (1986) 67 ALR 244 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 261 CLR 644; [2017] HCA 12 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; [2014] HCA 7 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd (2009) 76 NSWLR 603; [2009] NSWCA 407 Gange v Sullivan (1966) 116 CLR 418; [1966] HCA 55 George v Cluning (1979) 28 ALR 57 Gilbert J McCaul (Aust) Pty Ltd v Pitt Club (1957) 59 SR (NSW) 122 H Lundbeck A/S v Sandoz Pty Ltd; CNS Pharma Pty Ltd v Sandoz Pty Ltd (2022) 399 ALR 184; [2022] HCA 4 Hide & Skin Trading Pty Ltd v Oceanic Meat Traders Ltd (1990) 20 NSWLR 310 International Petroleum Investment Company v Independent Public Business Corporation of Papua New Guinea [2015] NSWCA 363 Jireh International Pty Ltd t/as Gloria Jean's Coffee v Western Exports Services Inc [2011] NSWCA 137 Laybutt v Amoco Australia Pty Ltd (1974) 132 CLR 57; [1974] HCA 49 Miwa Pty Ltd v Siantan Properties Pte Ltd [2011] NSWCA 297 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Papantoniou v Stonewall Hotel Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 85 Re Mulholland's Will Trusts [1949] 1 All E.R. 460 Saipan Holdings Pty Ltd v City Gym Sydney Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 55 Tonitto v Bassal (1990) 5 BPR 11,258 Vella v McCullough (1979) ANZ Conv R 233 Wagners Cement Pty Ltd v Boral Resources (Qld) Pty Ltd [2020] QCA 289 Weeding v Weeding (1861) 1 J&H 424 [70 E.R. 182] Weston v Collins (1865) 34 LJ Ch 353 Zhu v Treasurer of NSW (2004) 218 CLR 530; [2004] HCA 56 Texts Cited: CJ Rossiter, "Options to Acquire Interests in Land – Freehold and Leasehold" (1982) 56 Australian Law Journal 576 Seddon and Bigwood, Cheshire & Fifoot Law of Contract (LexisNexis, 12th ed, 2023) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Willis Australia Limited (ACN 000 321 237) (Appellant)