Hill v Esplanade Wollongong Pty Ltd ACN 141 133 708 (subject to a deed of company arrangement) [2018] NSWSC 478

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Hill v Esplanade Wollongong Pty Ltd ACN 141 133 708 (subject to a deed of company arrangement) [2018] NSWSC 478 Hearing dates: 9 April 2018 Decision date: 20 April 2018 Before: Gleeson JA Decision: (1) Leave is granted to the plaintiffs nunc pro tunc pursuant to s 444E(3)(c) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to commence and proceed with this proceeding against the first defendant on the condition that the plaintiffs do not seek to enforce any judgment against the first defendant without further leave of the Court.

(2) Order that the plaintiffs' costs of the motion be the plaintiffs' costs in the proceedings.

(3) Matter be listed for further directions before the Equity Division Registrar on 30 April 2018. Catchwords: CORPORATIONS – plaintiffs seek leave under s 444E(3) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to proceed against the first defendant company – where the company is subject to a deed of company arrangement – factors relevant to the grant of leave – whether leave ought to be granted nunc pro tunc – whether grant of leave under s 444E(3) would be futile because of moratorium and barring provisions in deed of company arrangement Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 436A, 444E(3), 471B, 599, 1321, Pt 5.3A Div 10, Sch 2 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Insolvency Practice Schedule, ss 5-15, 90-15 Insolvency Law Reform Act 2016 (Cth) Cases Cited: Attard v James Legal Pty Ltd (2010) 80 ACSR 585; [2010] NSWCA 311 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v ACN 135 183 372 (Administrators Appointed) (formerly known as Energy Watch Pty Ltd) [2012] FCA 586 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Phoenix Institute of Australia Pty Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) [2016] FCA 1246 Capita Financial Group Ltd v Rothwells (1989) 15 ACLR 348 Easey v Grosvenor Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd (2005) 54 ACSR 820; [2005] NSWSC 878 Hoath v Connect Internet Services Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 158; (2006) 229 ALR 566 JF Keir Pty Ltd v Priority Management Systems Pty Ltd (Administrator Appointed) [2007] NSWSC 748 Josia Pty Ltd v Horvat Constructions Pty Ltd [2004] NSWSC 1252; (2004) 12 BBR 22,671 Larkden Pty Ltd v Lloyd Energy Systems Pty Ltd (2011) 285 ALR 207; [2011] NSWSC 1305 Mehan v Arrium Limited (formerly OneSteel Limited) [2016] NSWSC 1680 Meehan v Stockmans Australian Café (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1996) 22 ACSR 123 Ogilvie-Grant v East (1983) 7 ACLR 669 Re AJ Benjamin Ltd (1969) 2 NSWLR 374 Re QMT Constructions Pty Ltd [2000] 1 Qd R 284; [1999] QSC 2 Adelaide Brighton Cement Limited, In the Matter of Concrete Supply Pty Ltd v Concrete Supply Pty Ltd (subject to Deed of Company Arrangement) [2018] FCA 315 Vagrand Pty Ltd (in liq) v Fielding (1993) 10 ACSR 373 Wolstenholme v National Express Group Australia (Swanston Trams) Pty Ltd [2003] VSC 476 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Stephen John Hill (First plaintiff) Deirdre Gai Hill (Second plaintiff) Esplanade Wollongong Pty Ltd ACN 141 133 708 (subject to deed of company arrangement) (First defendant) Peter Anthony Taranto (Second defendant) Alexander Pupovac (Third defendant) Kerry Kyriakoudes (Fourth defendant) Peter Bahlmann (Fifth defendant) Anna Masi (Sixth defendant) Hayley Maree Williams (Seventh defendant) Thomas William Sherley (Eighth defendant) Jeffrey Robert David (Ninth defendant) Representation: Counsel: MJ Heath (Plaintiffs)