Salvatore Sanfilippo v Anvest Holdings Pty Ltd and Ors [2014] NSWSC 650

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Salvatore Sanfilippo v Anvest Holdings Pty Ltd and Ors [2014] NSWSC 650 Hearing dates: 9, 10, 11 September 2013 and 17 February 2014 Decision date: 26 May 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Slattery J Decision: See paragraph [138]. Catchwords: CONTRACT - construction of contract - defendant to repay $1,266,000 in vendor finance to the plaintiff to finalise a share sale agreement - certain defined expenses could be set off against vendor finance liability - whether identified expenses qualified under the relevant contractual definition as expenses that could be set off against vendor finance repayment obligation - principle that the Court should take a businesslike approach to the construction of commercial contractual language - whether the Court may consider surrounding circumstances to cure ambiguity of language - application of principle that post-contractual conduct cannot inform construction. Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 Cases Cited: Agricultural & Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardiner (2008) 238 CLR 570 Calverley v Green (1984) 155 CLR 242 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337 Current Images Pty Ltd v Dupack Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 99 FAI General Insurance Co Ltd (In Liq) v Sherry [2002] SASC 431 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd (2009) 76 NSWLR 603 Gardiner v Agricultural & Rural Finance Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 235 Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd (2001) 210 CLR 181 McCann v Switzerland Insurance Australia Ltd (2000) 203 CLR 579 McCourt v Cranston [2012] WASCA 60 Napier v Public Trustee (WA) (1980) 32 ALR 153 Pacific Carriers Ltd v BNP Paribas (2004) 218 CLR 451 Re Alex Russell [1968] VR 285 Re Inland Revenue Commissioners v Crossman [1937] AC 26 Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust v South Sydney City Council (2002) 240 CLR 45 Secured Income Real Estate (Aust) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165 Western Export Services Inc v Jireh International Pty Ltd (2011) 282 ALR 604 Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 522 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Salvatore Sanfilippo First Defendant: Anvest Holdings Pty Ltd Second Defendant: Romeo Tamburri Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: M Southwick Defendant: H W M Stitt Solicitors: Plaintiff: Barringer Leather Lawyers Defendant: LCI Legal Solicitors Attorneys File Number(s): 2012/249526 Publication restriction: No