Hong Kong Judgment

Court of First Instance

RE SYSTEM-PRO COMPUTERS LTD

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Professional case brief

Research organized from the available case record

Source document

01

Holding and result

The application was granted because the applicants, as former liquidators, had locus, there was a legitimate and specific purpose to restore the company (to regularise novation of government contracts and recover unpaid invoices), and there was no irregularity or opposition from the Registrar of Companies.

Court disposition

Application granted

Orders

  • Dissolution of System-Pro Computers Limited declared void
  • Applicants appointed as liquidators of System-Pro Computers Limited
  • Consequential directions made in terms of the draft order submitted to the court

02

Material facts

Parties

Former liquidators of System-Pro Computers Limited

Applicant Counsel: Mr Mark R.C. Sutherland

System-Pro Computers Limited

Subject Company

Registrar of Companies

Respondent

Jardine One Solution (HK) Limited

Interested Party

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Restoration Under Companies Ordinance S290 / Judgment on Application

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The former liquidators applied under section 290 to declare the dissolution void and to be appointed liquidators so the company can be revived to renew or properly novate government contracts and reissue outstanding invoices; they have locus as former liquidators and there was no misconduct in the winding up.
Respondent
No opposition from the Registrar of Companies; no substantive respondent argument presented in court; government had refused payment to Jardine One but was not a party to these proceedings.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 s.290

    Section 290 of the Companies Ordinance permits restoration of a dissolved company to enable distribution of overlooked assets or for creditors to claim

  2. 02

    Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 and established practice

    Former liquidators have locus to apply for restoration where legitimate purpose exists and no misconduct occurred in the winding up

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The application was granted because the applicants, as former liquidators, had locus, there was a legitimate and specific purpose to restore the company (to regularise novation of government contracts and recover unpaid invoices), and there was no irregularity or opposition from the Registrar of Companies.

Obiter and limits

  • Usual purpose of restoration is to enable distribution of overlooked assets or allow creditors to make claims.
  • There was no suggestion of misfeasance or wrongful conduct by directors or officers in the winding up.

Court disposition

Application granted

  • Dissolution of System-Pro Computers Limited declared void
  • Applicants appointed as liquidators of System-Pro Computers Limited
  • Consequential directions made in terms of the draft order submitted to the court

Source and reliance status

Court of First Instance · 27 June 2007

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Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Court of First Instance

Judgment· 27 June 2007

RE SYSTEM-PRO COMPUTERS LTD

bjbj HCMP 1091/2007

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE

HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE MISCELLANEOUS PROCEEDINGS NO. 1091 OF 2007 ____ IN THE MATTER of System-Pro Computers Limited and IN THE MATTER of the Companies Ordinance, Chapter 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong ____ Before: Hon Kwan J in Court Date of Hearing: 27 June 2007 Date of Judgment: 27 June 2007 ______

J U D G M E N T ______ This is an application by the former liquidators of System-Pro Computers Limited ( the Company ), seeking an order under section 290 of the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32, declaring that dissolution of the Company is void and that they be appointed liquidators of the Company with other consequential directions. The usual purpose of an application to restore a company under section 290 is to enable the liquidator to distribute an overlooked asset or a creditor to make a claim which has not previously been made. As former liquidators, the applicants clearly have locus to apply under this provision. The Company had carried on business of trading in and providing maintenance service to computers. It had provided computer sales and services to the Hong Kong government. The Company was one of the companies under the management of JOS One Solution Group ( the Group ), whose business was consolidated under Jardine One Solution (HK) Limited ( Jardine One ). As part of its business reorganisation, the Group decided to wind up the Company which had been dormant since 2003. At the extraordinary general meeting of the Company on 31 October 2005, special resolutions were passed that the Company be placed in voluntary liquidation and that the applicants be appointed liquidators. The applicants distributed surplus assets to the ordinary shareholders on 17 May 2006.

On 11 October 2006, the Company was dissolved under section 248. The reason for this application is that there are contracts entered into by the Company with the government that were not novated to Jardine One prior to its dissolution because the relevant formalities were never completed. Further, it was discovered that some of the contracts which `had purportedly been novated to Jardine One had not been properly novated. There were also invoices rendered to the government by Jardine One on behalf of the Company that the government refused to settle on the basis that the payment should only be made to the Company. There is clearly a purpose to be served by reviving the Company. It would enable all contracts entered into by the Company with the government to be renewed or properly novated and all outstanding invoices to be reissued in the Company s name and presented to the government. I understand there were no irregularities in the course of winding up of the affairs of the Company or misfeasance or other wrongful acts of the directors or officers. The application is not opposed by the Registrar of Companies. I therefore make an order in terms of the draft submitted to me. (S Kwan) Judge of the Court of First Instance High Court Mr Mark R.C. Sutherland, instructed by Messrs Horvath & Giles, for the applicants The Registrar of Companies, absent

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 s.290

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

Companies Ordinance, Cap. 32 s.248

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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