Nature’s Care Holdings Pty Ltd v Chen [2024] NSWSC 14

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Nature's Care Holdings Pty Ltd v Chen [2024] NSWSC 14 Hearing dates: 22, 23 January 2024 Date of orders: 23 January 2024 Decision date: 23 January 2024 Jurisdiction: Equity - Duty List Before: Rees J Decision: Interim injunction granted. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Interlocutory injunctions — minority shareholder seeks control of corporate group by acquiring rights of lenders to the group — corporate group presently in default under Syndicated Loan Facility — actions by former directors and chief executive officer said to be in breach of fiduciary obligations – whether a serious question to be tried – where balance of convenience lies – interim injunction granted. Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 180-185, 191, 1324 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neil (2006) 227 CLR 57 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v Lenah Game Meats Pty Ltd (2001) 208 CLR 199 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 618 Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 Bulgana Windfarm Pty Ltd [2019] VSCA 318 Chan v Zacharia (1984) 154 CLR 178 City Garden Australia Pty Ltd (in administration) v Clay v Clay (2001) 202 CLR 410 Dai [2023] NSWSC 1498 Inglis v Commonwealth Trading Bank of Australia (1972) 126 CLR 161 Mineralogy Pty Ltd v Sino Iron Pty Ltd [2016] WASCA 105 Parker v McKenna (1874) LR 10 Ch App 96 Pilmer v Duke Group Ltd (in liq) (2001) 207 CLR 165 Re Cawley & Co (1889) 42 Ch D 209 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Pty Ltd v Targus Group (UK) v Targus Australia (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 1322 Texts Cited: Meagher, Gummow and Lehane 5th ed (2016) Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Nature's Care Holdings Pty Ltd (First Plaintiff) Nature's Care Group Pty Ltd (Second Plaintiff) AJ & Son Investment Pty Ltd (Third Plaintiff) Nature's Care Manufacture Pty Ltd (Fourth Plaintiff) Nature's Care Global Franchising Pty Ltd (Fifth Plaintiff) Jina Chen (First Defendant) Michael Wu (Second Defendant) AS Investment Vehicle Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms D Hogan-Doran SC / Ms I King (Plaintiffs) Ms A Hovarth SC / Mr P Afshar (First and Second Defendants)