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View/Open - Research Commons - The University of Waikato

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law 200 states the court has the power to order a director to make a contribution ‗to the<br />

company‘s assets.‘<br />

<strong>The</strong> usage <strong>of</strong> the terms "contribution to the company‘s assets" in both sections<br />

indicates that the sums should be paid to the liquidator for distribution among the<br />

creditors, and not to any specific creditor. 201 This argument is further enhanced by<br />

the requirement that only a liquidator is allowed to bring an action. Prior to the<br />

enactment <strong>of</strong> civil liability for fraudulent trading in section 213, the courts‘ power to<br />

grant an order should be exercised for the benefit <strong>of</strong> creditors as a class and not on<br />

individual creditor. 202 In re Cyona Distributors Ltd, 203 Lord Denning M.R. decided<br />

that the wording <strong>of</strong> the section 204 is quite general and it grants authority to the court<br />

to decide on the destination <strong>of</strong> the award depending on who made the application.<br />

<strong>The</strong>refore, it was possible for the court to award relief to an individual creditor. <strong>The</strong><br />

decision, however, was made under the old provision which allowed an application<br />

by a liquidator or a creditor or a contributory. 205 <strong>The</strong> matter has since been settled by<br />

the enactment <strong>of</strong> section 213 <strong>of</strong> the Insolvency Act 1986 and is reflected in courts‘<br />

decisions.<br />

It is settled law in the UK for both section 213 and section 214 that the court has<br />

jurisdiction in exercising its power to grant an order <strong>of</strong> contribution to creditors as a<br />

whole, regardless <strong>of</strong> whether they existed before or after the trading. 206 This<br />

200 Section 214 and section 213 <strong>of</strong> the UK Insolvency Act 1986 both contain the same wording.<br />

201 Morphitis v Bernasconi and others[2003] Ch 552; Re Purpoint Ltd (1991) BCLC 491; Re Produce<br />

Marketing Consortium (No 2) [1989] BCLC 520.<br />

202 See Eve J in Re William Leitch Bros Ltd (No 2)[1933] 261at 266.<br />

203 [1967] Ch 887.<br />

204 ―all or any <strong>of</strong> the debts or liabilities <strong>of</strong> the company as the court shall direct" in section 332(1) <strong>of</strong><br />

the UK Companies Act 1948.<br />

205 See comment by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John Farrar ―Corporate Insolvency Law and the Law‖ (1976) JBL 214<br />

at 226- ―the view <strong>of</strong> Lord Denning could lead to anarchy.‖<br />

206 See judgement by Vinelott J in Re Purpoint Ltd (1991) BCLC 491 at 499, the judge stated that the<br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> section 214 is to recoup the loss to the company so as to benefit the creditors as a<br />

356

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