Arrangements for putting in place voluntary arrangements for companies. Discussing Sovereign Insurance: ‘When applying Bowen LJ’s test to the question ‘are the rights of those who are to be affected by the scheme proposed such that the scheme can be seen as single arrangement; or ought it to be regarded, on a true analysis, as a number of linked arrangements?’ it is necessary to ensure not only that those whose rights really are so dissimilar that they cannot consult together with a view to a common interest should be treated as parties to distinct arrangements – so that they should have their own separate meetings – but also that those whose rights are sufficiently similar to the rights of others that they can properly consult together should be required to do so; lest by ordering separate meetings the court gives a veto to a minority group. The safeguard against majority oppression, as I sought to point out in the BTR case ([2001] 1 BCLC 740 at 747) is that the court is not bound by the decision of the meeting. It is important Bowen LJ’s test should not be applied in such a way that it becomes an instrument of oppression by a minority. ‘
Judges:
Chadwick LJ, Pill LJ
Citations:
[2001] EWCA Civ 241, [2001] 2 BCLC 480
Links:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Citing:
Cited – Sovereign Life Assurance v Dodd 1892
‘What is the proper construction of that statute? It makes the majority of the creditors or of a class of creditors bind the minority: it exercises a most formidable compulsion upon dissentient, or would-be dissentient, creditors; and it therefore . .
Cited by:
Cited – In re Telewest Communications Plc ChD 26-Apr-2004
A scheme of arrangement had been proposed. The creditor complained that in providing for payment in a currency other than that agreed, it had been prejudiced.
Held: The provision in the scheme did purport to alter the claimant’s rights. . .
Cited – In the Matter of Drax Holdings Limited and in the Matter of InPower Limited ChD 17-Nov-2003
A company incorporated in Jersey comes within the Act for the purposes of the section. An English court has jurisdiction to wind up a foreign company if it has assets here or some other sufficient connection with this country. . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Company, Insolvency
Updated: 31 May 2022; Ref: scu.147449