In the matter of Sun Cable Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) [2023] NSWSC 1037

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of Sun Cable Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) [2023] NSWSC 1037 Hearing dates: 28 August 2023 Date of orders: 29 August 2023 Decision date: 30 August 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Corporations List Before: Williams J Decision: See below at [5] Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Stay of proceedings — Contractual dispute resolution process culminating in expert determination — Where proceedings commenced by plaintiffs after defendant issued notice of dispute invoking contractual process — Whether Court should exercise discretion to stay proceedings LEASES AND TENANCIES — Assignment and subletting — Consent — Where defendant granted options to plaintiff to enter into long-term leases and easements over defendant's pastoral leasehold land — Where each option deed precluded the plaintiff from assigning its rights or novating its obligations under the deed unless (i) the plaintiff gives the defendant all information requested by the defendant that is reasonably required to determine whether the proposed assignee, of the party in control of the proposed assignee, is able to satisfy the grantee's obligations "under this Deed"; and (ii) the defendant approves the assignee in writing (which approval must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) — Where plaintiff sought defendant's approval to assign option deeds to assignee – Whether plaintiff had failed to provide to the defendant information that it was obliged by that clause to provide — Whether defendant unreasonably withheld or delayed its approval of the proposed assignee — Whether defendant obliged to approve the proposed assignee and execute deeds of assignment and novation Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 136 Cases Cited: Australian Vintage Ltd v Belvino Investments No 2 Pty Ltd (2015) 90 NSWLR 367; (2015) 18 BPR 35,669; [2015] NSW ConvR 56-355; [2015] NSWCA 217 Cathedral Place Pty Ltd v Hyatt of Australia Ltd [2003] VSC 385 Cessnock City Council v Aviation and Leisure Corporation Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 221 Dance with Mr D Limited v Dirty Dancing Investments Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 332 Ecosse Property Holdings Pty Ltd v Gee Dee Nominees Pty Ltd (2017) 261 CLR 544; (2017) 91 ALJR 486; (2017) 343 ALR 58; [2017] NSW ConvR 56-377; [2017] V ConvR 54-888; [2017] HCA 12 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 251 CLR 640; (2014) 88 ALJR 447; (2014) 306 ALR 25; (2014) 7 ARLR 361; [2014] HCA 7 Fulham Partners LLC v National Australia Bank Ltd (2013) 17 BPR 32,709; [2013] NSWCA 296 J A McBeath Nominees Pty Ltd v Jenkins Development Corporation Pty Ltd [1992] 2 Qd R 121 Lipman Pty Ltd v Empire Facades Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 217 Norton Property Group Pty Ltd v Ozzy States Pty Ltd (in liq) [2020] NSWCA 23 Onslow Salt Pty Ltd v Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation [2018] FCAFC 118 Petelin v Deger Investments Pty Ltd (1976) 133 CLR 538; (1976) 50 ALJR 417; (1976) 8 ALR 466; [1976] HCA 4 Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596; (1979) 53 ALJR 745; (1979) 26 ALR 567; [1979] HCA 51 Texts Cited: N/A Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Christopher Clarke Hill, David McGrath and John Park in their capacities as joint and several administrators of Sun Cable Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) ACN 623 991 006 (First Plaintiffs) Sun Cable Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) ACN 623 991 006 (Second Plaintiff) Consolidated Pastoral Company Pty Limited (ACN 010 080 654) (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr M A Izzo SC with Ms A Hammond (Plaintiffs) Mr N J Kidd SC with Mr D G Healey (Defendant)