Collins & Aikman Europe SA Collins & Ors, Re Insolvency Act 1986

Collins & Aikman Europe SA Collins & Ors, Re Insolvency Act 1986

The Court has jurisdiction under Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and inherent powers to direct Joint Administrators to honour assurances given to creditors, allowing distributions according to local law priorities, as such conduct assists the purpose of administration and is not precluded by statutory provisions.

Parties
Applicant: Collins & Aikman Europe SA; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Automotive Systems SL; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Automotive Holding GmbH; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Systems GmbH; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Systems AB; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Automotive Company Italia SRL; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Automotive Trim Bvba; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Automotive Holdings BV; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Automotive Trim BV; Applicant: Collins & Aikman Automotive SRO; Officer: Joint Administrators (Messrs S. J. Appell, A. P. Beveridge, G. P. Squires of Kroll)
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
09 June 2006
Procedural Posture
Insolvency Administration / Application for Directions and Approval of Distributions
Outcome
Application granted for all applicant companies except Collins & Aikman Automotive Holding GmbH, for which the hearing is adjourned.
Legal Topics
Administration Orders, Distribution to Creditors, Court Directions, Application of Local Law, Powers of Administrators

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Parties

Collins & Aikman Europe SA

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Automotive Systems SL

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Automotive Holding GmbH

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Systems GmbH

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Systems AB

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Automotive Company Italia SRL

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Automotive Trim Bvba

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Automotive Holdings BV

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Automotive Trim BV

Applicant

Collins & Aikman Automotive SRO

Applicant

Joint Administrators (Messrs S. J. Appell, A. P. Beveridge, G. P. Squires of Kroll)

Officer

Procedural Posture

Insolvency Administration / Application for Directions and Approval of Distributions

  1. 1 Whether English-appointed Joint Administrators can honour assurances to apply local law provisions in distributions to creditors of European companies.
  2. 2 Whether the Court has jurisdiction and discretion to direct administrators to implement such assurances, departing from English law.

Ratio Decidendi

The Court has jurisdiction under Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and inherent powers to direct Joint Administrators to honour assurances given to creditors, allowing distributions according to local law priorities, as such conduct assists the purpose of administration and is not precluded by statutory provisions.

Court Disposition

Application granted for all applicant companies except Collins & Aikman Automotive Holding GmbH, for which the hearing is adjourned.

Orders

  • Joint Administrators are directed to implement assurances given to creditors, making distributions according to local law priorities.
  • Certificate under Articles 54 and 58 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001 to be issued referring to this judgment.