The property mortgaged was specialised sound and lighting equipment used at pop concerts. The mortgagee’s guarantor was dissatisfied with the way in which the receiver sold the equipment.
Held: Where a company receiver was appointed under a charge in common form, he acted as the agent of the the mortgagor until the mortgagor’s liquidation. Something more is required to constitute a relationship of principal and agent between the mortgagee and the receiver than the mere appointment under the terms of a debenture which in its normal form constitutes the receiver an agent for the mortgagor. While he was such, the mortgagee was not responsible for what the receiver did unless and until he directed or interfered with the receiver’s activities. Furthermore, the mortgagee, or receiver, had a duty of care to the guarantor of the mortgagor’s debt to obtain the true market value of the mortgaged property when either of them realised the property in the exercise of a power of sale. In the circumstances of this case the receiver had not taken reasonable care to obtain the true market value.
Mann J said: ‘In my judgment the receiver did not take reasonable care in all the circumstances of the case to obtain the true market value of the equipment. He had in his hands equipment which he knew had been valued at andpound;193,323 and which he knew was of a specialist nature. In regard to the disposal of the equipment he did nothing. Although advised by Edward Symmons Ltd that he should look to the trade the receiver did not do so but was content that the trade should look to him. In my judgment the failure to take reasonable care is manifest in these forms: (i) a failure to take specialist advice from a person in the popular music industry; (ii) a failure to advertise in publications concerning the popular music industry. The receiver is liable in negligence to the guarantor.’
Judges:
Mann J
Citations:
[1985] 3 All ER 564, [1986] BCLC 52
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Cited – Blackpool and Fylde Aero Club Ltd v Blackpool Borough Council CA 25-May-1990
The club had enjoyed a concession from the council to operate pleasure flights from the airport operated by the council. They were invited to bid for a new concession subject to strict tender rules. They submitted the highest bid on time, but the . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Contract, Agency, Banking, Insolvency
Updated: 05 August 2022; Ref: scu.267746