In the matter of ERB International Pty Limited (deregistered) [2014] NSWSC 200

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the matter of ERB International Pty Limited (deregistered) [2014] NSWSC 200 Hearing dates: 7 March 2014 Decision date: 10 March 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Corporations List Before: Brereton J Decision: Order that the company be reinstated and that new liquidators be appointed Catchwords: CORPORATIONS - external administration - deregistration and reinstatement - application by former liquidator for reinstatement of company - whether just to order reinstatement - where purpose to bring claims against directors - where potential claims came to light in course of disciplinary proceedings against liquidator - where directors will retain ability to apply to stay or dismiss proceedings - question is justice of reinstatement, not of proposed proceedings - held, reinstatement would be just - whether former liquidator automatically resumes office - held, former liquidator does not automatically resume office on reinstatement - whether former liquidator should be reappointed - held, in the circumstances of this case, not appropriate to reappoint former liquidator - new liquidators appointed. Legislation Cited: (CTH) Corporations Act 2001, s 601AH Cases Cited: ACN 078 272 867 Pty Ltd (in liq) (formerly Advance Finances Pty Ltd) v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation; Binetter v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation [2011] HCA 46; (2011) 86 ALJR 4; (2011) 85 ACSR 247 AMP General Insurance Ltd v Victorian Workcover Authority [2006] VSCA 236 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2000] NSWSC 316; (2000) 174 ALR 688; 34 ACSR 232 Auzhair Supplies Pty Ltd (a deregistered company) and Auzhair 1 Pty Ltd, Re; Greenaway v Auzhair 1 Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 1339; (2010) 80 ACSR 538 Best v Yellow Express Carriers Ltd [2004] NSWSC 666 Binetter v Commissioner of Taxation [2011] FCA 1195; (2011) 198 FCR 49 Blazai Pty Ltd v Gateway Development (St Marys) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 800 Brisbane South Regional Health Authority v Taylor (1996) 186 CLR 541 Brownlie v TTPM Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 480; (2003) 21 ACLC 1204 Casali v Crisp [2001] NSWSC 860; (2001) 165 FLR 79 Civil & Civic Pty Ltd v R W Bass Pty Ltd (1996) 20 ACSR 16 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation, Re; James Hardie Australia Finance Pty Ltd (deregistered) [2008] FCA 1181; (2008) 170 FCR 545; (2008) 67 ACSR 497 Donmastry Pty Ltd v Albarran [2004] NSWSC 632; (2004) 49 ACSR 745 Gorman v ASIC [2008] FCA 962 Herbert v Nozala Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1437 JP Morgan Portfolio Services Ltd v Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu [2008] FCA 433; (2008) 167 FCR 212; (2008) 65 ACSR 636 Kenney v McCann (1992) 7 WAR 329; sub nom Re Steelmaster Pty Ltd (in liq) (1992) 10 ACLC 176 Murray Halstead v CTS Quality Building Products Pty Ltd (in liq) [2006] NSWSC 1022 Promnitz v ASIC [2004] FCA 22 Ramantanis v G&M Excavations Pty Ltd [2003] NSWSC 1250; (2004) 22 ACLC 22 Stone v ACN 000 337 940 Pty Ltd [2008] NSWSC 1058; (2008) 68 ACSR 242 Texts Cited: McPherson, The Law of Company Liquidation (4th ed, 1999) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Pino Fiorentino (applicant) Australian Securities & Investments Commission (first respondent) Ali Hammoud and Manel Issa (second respondents) Representation: Counsel: T. J. Rickard (applicant) P. T. Russell (first respondent) B. DeBuse (second respondents) Solicitors: Kim Turner, Solicitor, ASIC (first respondent) Schofield King Lawyers Pty Ltd (second respondents) File Number(s): 2013/332730