ANNULMENT = “AS IF THE BANKRUPTCY NEVER HAPPENED”

[50-1515] Grounds and consequences A bankruptcy may be annulled by either the bankrupt’s debts having been paid in full or where, following the bankruptcy and in place of it, the creditors accept a composition or scheme of arrangement.

Annulment on these grounds is automatic and so does not require a court order.

The effect of an annulment is to treat the bankruptcy as if it had not occurred. 

Footnotes

8 AND 9. Oates –ats- CMR Of Taxation – Federal Court of Australia — New South Wales District Registry — General Division

Hill J G104 of 1990 18 December 1990 9

Once a bankruptcy is annulled it is as if it has never occurred and all records of the action are to be amended on the public record.

Fortunately, there are provisions within the Bankruptcy Act that enable bankrupts to have their bankruptcy annulled through a Section 73 proposal.

The repercussions of a creditor’s claims can often result in bankruptcy, regardless of whether or not it was the individual’s choice to enter bankruptcy, or if it was filed by a creditor. However, bankruptcy is far from the end of the world for the person who undergoes bankruptcy.

It can give the individual an opportunity to have a ‘clean slate’, free from all debts accrued at the time of bankruptcy.

Rather than following the natural course of bankruptcy over 3 years or more, which could result in a catastrophic credit record and a painful procedure, a Section 73 proposal is an approach where “everybody wins”.  Please read carefully our “About Bankruptcy” pages that explain, that:  Once a bankruptcy is annulled, your credit rating may be restored to that of before the bankruptcy although it remains on the National Insolvency Index.

Section 73 (1) of the Act states as follows:

73(1) [Trustee’s proposal] Where a bankrupt desires to propose to his or her creditors for:

(a) composition in satisfaction of his or her debts;

(b) a scheme of arrangement of his or her affairs;

He or she may lodge with the trustee a proposal in writing signed by him or her setting out the terms of the proposed composition or scheme of arrangement and particulars of any sureties or securities forming part of the proposal. Section 73 allows a bankrupt to propose to his or her creditors for either a composition or scheme of arrangement, which, if accepted, will allow for the termination of the bankruptcy.

Composition means an arrangement where the creditors agree to accept in full settlement, a payment less than full payment of all debts. The payment offered under the proposal may be immediate or over some time.

For a proposal to be accepted by creditors, it requires, under Section 73(4) of the Act, the passing of a special resolution. A special resolution is defined by Section 5 of the Act as:

“A resolution passed by a majority in number and at least three-fourths in value of the creditors present personally, by telephone, by an attorney or by proxy at the meeting of creditors and voting on the resolution”

The effect of acceptance of the proposal for the composition is that the proposal is binding on all creditors who have provable debts due to them from the bankrupt (Section 75), except that:

• The bankrupt is not released from a provable debt due to a creditor that would not be released by the bankrupt’s discharge from bankruptcy (unless the creditor consents), and
• Approval does not release any other person, that is, other than the bankrupt, from any liability from which he would not be released by the discharge of the bankrupt, for example, a guarantor of the bankrupt’s liabilities.

The terms of the composition are enforceable by the Court on the application of any interested person and disobedience to any such order of the Court is contempt of the Court.

All sales and dispositions of property and payments duly made and all acts done by the Trustee or any person acting under the authority of the Trustee or the Court before the annulment shall be deemed to have been validly made or done, but subject to Section 74(7) of the Act, the property of the bankrupt still vested in the Trustee vests in such person as the Court appoints or, in default of such an appointment, reverts to the bankrupt for all his or her estate or interest in it, on such terms and subject to such conditions (if any) as the Court orders.

Where the law of the Commonwealth or a state or territory of the Commonwealth requires the transmission of property to be registered, any such property vested in the Trustee at the time of the annulment of the bankruptcy, notwithstanding that it vests in equity in such person as the Court appoints or in the bankrupt, as the case may be, does not vest in that person or the bankrupt at law until the requirements of that law have been complied with (Section 74(7)).

Subject to any bona fide dispositions lawfully made by the Trustee before annulment and subject to any condition that the Court may by its annulment order impose, the bankrupt is restored to his pre-bankruptcy position. The property of the bankrupt vests in the person the Court appoints or in default reverts to the bankrupt.

The criminal liability of the bankrupt will not be affected by the acceptance or approval of a composition or scheme of arrangement under Pt IV (or for that matter of a discharge or annulment) as he or she may still be prosecuted for offences (Section 275).

The composition or scheme of arrangement may be terminated or set aside by Order of the Court upon application of the Inspector-General, the Trustee or a creditor.

Should you wish to travel overseas and you have been assessed as being liable to make income contributions to your estate, you may be required to make an application through the Court. The Application would be determined on its merits and it would be dependent upon whether you are currently up to date with your contributions and whether adequate provisions/arrangements have been put in place during your absence, for the continuity of these payments.

The Trustee is no longer required to demand your passport, but the requirement remains at his discretion. He will however often require 30 days’ notice of your intention to leave the country.

There are several ways in which a composition or scheme of arrangement can be terminated – by the Court, by a special resolution of creditors, by default in meeting the terms of the agreement or by specified event outlined in the agreement.

A Court can set aside the agreement upon application where it is apparent the composition or scheme of arrangement:

• The terms and conditions are unreasonable and do not provide an equitable outcome to creditors;
• It does not comply with the Act or Bankruptcy Regulations; or
• It has been based on false or misleading information.

In any of these circumstances, the Court can make a Sequestration Order against the former bankrupt and the former bankrupt becomes bankrupt.  The Trustee, if he is satisfied that a former bankrupt has defaulted on the terms and conditions, can have the composition or scheme of arrangement terminated by:

• Sending written notice to each creditor detailing the reason for the termination and creditors not objecting to the termination; or
• Calling a special meeting of creditors to consider the termination and creditors resolve by ordinary resolution to terminate the agreement.

Where the composition or scheme of arrangement contains specified terminating events that will automatically cause a termination, for example, breach of terms, likely injustice through delay in realisation of assets or inability to realise, then upon such an event occurring, the composition or scheme of arrangement will be terminated.

Creditors can pass a special resolution terminating a composition or scheme of arrangement.  Creditors will need to take fresh proceedings in the Court where the former bankrupt’s composition or scheme of arrangement has been terminated by the streamlined correspondence method, by creditors passing an ordinary resolution or triggered by a special event in the composition or scheme of arrangement. Where an application to the Court has been made to terminate the composition or scheme of the arrangement, the Court can make that determination without the need for fresh proceedings.

There are several ways in which a composition or scheme of arrangement can be terminated – by the Court, by a special resolution of creditors, by default in meeting the terms of the agreement or by specified event outlined in the agreement.

A Court can set aside the agreement upon application where it is apparent the composition or scheme of arrangement:

• The terms and conditions are unreasonable and do not provide an equitable outcome to creditors;
• It does not comply with the Act or Bankruptcy Regulations; or
• It has been based on false or misleading information.

In any of these circumstances, the Court can make a Sequestration Order against the former bankrupt and the former bankrupt becomes bankrupt.  The Trustee, if he is satisfied that a former bankrupt has defaulted on the terms and conditions, can have the composition or scheme of arrangement terminated by:

• Sending written notice to each creditor detailing the reason for the termination and creditors not objecting to the termination; or
• Calling a special meeting of creditors to consider the termination and creditors resolve by ordinary resolution to terminate the agreement.

Where the composition or scheme of arrangement contains specified terminating events that will automatically cause a termination, for example, breach of terms, likely injustice through delay in realisation of assets or inability to realise, then upon such an event occurring, the composition or scheme of arrangement will be terminated.

Creditors can pass a special resolution terminating a composition or scheme of arrangement.  Creditors will need to take fresh proceedings in the Court where the former bankrupt’s composition or scheme of arrangement has been terminated by the streamlined correspondence method, by creditors passing an ordinary resolution or triggered by a special event in the composition or scheme of arrangement. Where an application to the Court has been made to terminate the composition or scheme of the arrangement, the Court can make that determination without the need for fresh proceedings.