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View/Open - Research Commons - The University of Waikato

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Malaysia and the United Kingdom do not have any equivalent statutory provision<br />

and thus reliance on case law remains. <strong>The</strong> courts in the UK remain staunch in<br />

upholding the separate legal entity principle and have become stricter since the<br />

decision <strong>of</strong> Adams v Cape Industries plc. 121 <strong>The</strong> Malaysian courts have adopted the<br />

same position as in the UK and are reluctant to lift the corporate veil unless<br />

circumstances justify it.<br />

5.2.3.3.1 New Zealand Approach<br />

<strong>The</strong> Companies Act 1993 allows the court to make an order to any company which is<br />

related to the company in liquidation to pay for the debts <strong>of</strong> the latter, 122 and if two<br />

or more related companies are in liquidation, the court may order the liquidation <strong>of</strong><br />

these companies as if they were one company. 123 A liquidator, a creditor or a<br />

shareholder can make an application under section 271 <strong>of</strong> the Act. This section<br />

differs from section 588V <strong>of</strong> the Australian Corporations Act 2001 because it allows<br />

creditors and shareholders to make direct application to the court and not necessarily<br />

through a liquidator. <strong>The</strong> court has the power to make such orders if the court is<br />

satisfied that it is just and equitable to do so. 124<br />

5.2.3.3.1.1 Contributions and Pooling Orders<br />

A contribution order is governed by section 271(1)(a) <strong>of</strong> the Companies Act 1993<br />

which allows a court to order a company related to a company in liquidation to<br />

contribute towards the claim in liquidation if it is satisfied that it is just and equitable<br />

to do so. Section 271(1)(b) <strong>of</strong> the same Act permits the court, if it is satisfied that it<br />

121 [1990] Ch. 433.<br />

122 Section 271(1)(a) <strong>of</strong> the New Zealand Companies Act 1993.<br />

123 Section 271(1)(b) <strong>of</strong> the New Zealand Companies Act 1993.<br />

124 Section 271(1) <strong>of</strong> the New Zealand Companies Act 1993.<br />

98

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