Shareholder Oppression: A Personal Wrong or a Corporate Wrong?

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Lee Shih and Joyce Lim discuss the effect of the Singapore Court of Appeal’s decision in the Sakae Holdings case. This article was originally published in Skrine’s Legal Insights Issue 03/2018.

In the recent case of Ho Yew Kong v Sakae Holdings Ltd [2018] SGCA 33 (“Sakae Holdings”), the Singapore Court of Appeal had the opportunity to clarify the distinction between personal wrongs committed against shareholders of a company and corporate wrongs against the company. This distinction directly relates to the question of whether the appropriate relief in each respective scenario would be by way of an oppression action or a statutory derivative action.

ST Photo. Image from the Business Times Singapore.

The Singapore Court of Appeal set out a framework to determine whether an aggrieved shareholder could maintain an oppression action or ought to have pursued a statutory derivative action instead. Continue reading →

Case Update: Court of Appeal Decision on Sale by Tender by Receivers

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SALE BY TENDER: WHEN DOES A CONTRACT ARISE?

Nathalie Ker discusses a Court of Appeal case on a sale by tender by receivers and managers. This article was originally published in Skrine’s Legal Insights Issue 03/2018.

It is common practice for the receivers or liquidators selling the assets of a company to conduct a sale by tender, issuing an Information Memorandum and inviting tenders from various parties. In such a situation, when does acceptance take place and when is a contract formed?

The Court of Appeal delved into these issues in the recent case of Emas Kiara Sdn Bhd v Michael Joseph Monteiro & Ors; Farcoll Estate Sdn Bhd & Ors (Interveners) [2018] 8 CLJ 17 (“Emas Kiara v Monteiro”).

The Court applied the principles of formation of contract to the issue as to whether a contract existed between the Appellant, Emas Kiara Sdn Bhd (“Emas Kiara”), and the 1st and 2nd Respondents who were receivers and managers (“R&M”) of the 3rd Respondent, Lembah Beringin Sdn Bhd (“Lembah Beringin”). Continue reading →

Malaysia Insolvency Conference 2018 on 22 November 2018

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On 22 November 2018, the Malaysia Insolvency Conference 2018 will be held at Connexion @ Nexus, Bangsar South. The conference is jointly organised by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), the Insolvency Practitioners Association of Malaysia (IPAM), and the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Accountants (MICPA).

Continue reading →

Case Update: The First Judicial Management Decision in Malaysia

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Summary

The High Court case of Re Leadmont Development Sdn Bhd [2018] MLJU 1320; [2018] 1 LNS 1420 is the first decision on judicial management in Malaysia.

Judicial management orders were granted ex parte for two related companies, Leadmont Development Sdn Bhd (“Leadmont”) and its subsidiary Sierra Delima Sdn Bhd (“Sierra Delima”). The judicial management orders were to facilitate the rehabilitation of these two companies. The companies wanted to successfully complete their project, the Selayang StarCity Project. A secured creditor of the companies, Infra Segi Sdn Bhd (“Infra Segi”), intervened after the grant of the judicial management orders to set aside the orders.

Image: http://www.selayangstarcity.com.my/

The decision is important for setting out the background and statutory framework of the judicial management provisions in Malaysia. It spells out the test for the grant of a judicial management order. The Court ultimately exercised its inherent jurisdiction to set aside the earlier judicial management orders. Continue reading →

Business Development for Lawyers: Building Your Career Beyond Legal Skills

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On Saturday 20 October 2018, 10am to 1pm, the Kuala Lumpur Bar Young Lawyers Committee is organising a seminar on Business Development for Lawyers: Building Your Career Beyond Legal Skills. I will be speaking with Foong Cheng Leong at this seminar. The seminar is open to all and the registration fee is only RM30. You can sign up at the event page here.

We will share our own business development experience and tips. Topics covered will include building your practice as a young lawyer, getting your first client and expanding your clientele, client management, and utilising social media.

 

Case Update: The MARA Decision on Appointment of Directors and Management Review

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The High Court decision in Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) v Dato’ Abd Rahim Adb Halim & Ors [2018] 8 CLJ 738; [2018] MLJU 1008 touched on some important points on the appointment of directors. It is also the first decision to briefly deal with the new right of management review under section 195 of the Companies Act 2016 (CA 2016).

Image: www.theedgemarkets.com

This dispute arose from the boardroom and shareholder tussle where MARA had requisitioned for an EGM of the company, Med-Bumikar. Med-Bumikar held a substantial stake in the listed entity, MBM Resources Bhd (MBMR). UMW had tabled an offer to purchase Med-Bumikar’s stake in MBMR. The crown jewel at the heart of the dispute was essentially MBMR’s 20% stake in Perodua. UMW already had approximately 38% interest in Perodua and this would allow UMW to have control over Perodua. Continue reading →