In the matter of Anton Fabrications (NSW) Pty Ltd - Bentley Smythe Pty Ltd v Anton Fabrications (NSW) Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 186

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of Anton Fabrications (NSW) Pty Ltd - Bentley Smythe Pty Ltd v Anton Fabrications (NSW) Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 186 Hearing dates: 14 March 2011 Decision date: 18 March 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Corporations List Before: Ward J Decision: Order for winding up of defendant Catchwords: CORPORATIONS - application for defendant to be wound up on the ground of insolvency under ss 459A, 459P and 459Q of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) - whether service of statutory demand was validly effected by leaving it in letterbox at residential address listed as defendant's registered office - whether defendant is insolvent pursuant to s 95A of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) - HELD - service of statutory demand was validly effected as letterbox wholly inside boundaries of place identified as registered office and letterbox was accessible to the public - statutory presumption of insolvency applied - evidence in any event established defendant's insolvency - winding up order made - PROCEDURE - whether application could be heard in absence of defendant - HELD - appropriate to hear application ex parte - all reasonable attempts were taken to notify defendant of application and no explanation of absence provided Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Cases Cited: ASIC v Plymin (No 1) (2003) 175 FLR 124 Bank of Australasia v Hall (1907) 4 CLR 1514 Bell Group Ltd (in liq) v Westpac Banking Corporation (No 9) (2008) 70 ACSR 1; [2008] WASC 239 Career Training On Line Pty Ltd v B E S Training Solutions Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 460 Derma Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd v HSBC Bank Australia Ltd (2005) 188 FLR 373 Dwyer v Canon Australia Pty Ltd [2007] SASC 100; (2007) 247 LSJS 438 Emanuel Management Pty Ltd (in liq) v Foster's Brewing Group Ltd (2003) 178 FLR 1 Hymix Concrete Pty Ltd v Garritty (1977) 13 ALR 321 Iso Lilodw' Aliphumeleli Pty Ltd (in liq) v Commissioner of Taxation (2002) 42 ACSR 561 James v Ash Electrical Services Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 1112 Jin Xin Investment & Trade (Australia) Pty Ltd v ISC Property Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 7; (2006) 196 FLR 350 Keith Smith East West Transport Pty Ltd (in liq) v Australian Taxation Office (2002) 42 ACSR 501 Kingdon v Kirk (1887) 37 Ch D 141 Magjarraj v Asteron Life Ltd [2009] NSWSC 1433 Northumbrian Ice Cream Co Ltd v Breakaway Vending Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1216 Partners of Piper Alderman v Sharjade Pty Ltd [2011] NSWSC 6 Polstar Pty Ltd v Agnew (2007) 208 FLR 226 Quick v Stoland Pty Ltd (1998) 157 ALR 615; (1998) 29 ACSR 130 Re Emeritus Pty Ltd [1967] 1 NSWR 458 Re Spanbild New Zealand Ltd [2010] BCL 443 Saferack Pty Ltd v Marketing Heads Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 1143; (2007) 214 FLR 393 Sandell v Porter (1966) 115 CLR 666 Southern Cross Interiors Pty Ltd (in liq) v DCT (2001) 53 NSWLR 213 Stone v Smith (1887) 35 Ch D 188 Texts Cited: Ford's Principles of Corporations Law (7th edn) Law Book Company, The Laws of Australia Ritchie's Uniform Civil Procedure (NSW) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Bentley Smythe Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Anton Fabrications (NSW) Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D R Pritchard SC (Plaintiff) Solicitors: Uther Webster & Evans (Plaintiff) File Number(s): 10/049765