Thesis (LLD (Mercantile Law))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Groups of companies are part of the realities of the modern economic system. Despite the fact that such groups often function as a single economic entity, the legal point of departure remains that each company within the group of companies is a separate juristic person. The result of this is that a creditor of a company within the group can, in principle, only enforce his claim against the company which he contracted with or which caused him harm. Should he wish to claim from the holding company or other solvent companies within the group, he would have to rely on an exception to the doctrine of separate juristic personality, viz the possibility of piercing the socalled corporate veil. This dissertation is a comparative study of the extent to which the law protects a creditor of an insolvent company within a group. The applicable laws of Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, were investigated and compared to the South African position. The dissertation concludes that the South African legal treatment of the problem is unsatisfactory and that the law should be amended through appropriate legislation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Maatskappygroepe is realiteite in die moderne ekonomiese wêreld. Ten spyte van die feit dat maatskappygroepe dikwels een ekonomiese entiteit vorm, huldig die reg die standpunt dat elke maatskappy binne ‘n groep maatskappye ‘n aparte regspersoon is. Die gevolg van hierdie standpunt is dat ‘n skuldeiser van ‘n maatskappy binne ‘n groep in beginsel slegs ‘n eis het teen die maatskappy met wie hy gekontrakteer het of wat hom skade berokken het. Indien hy ‘n eis teen die houermaatskappy of ander solvente maatskappye binne die groep wil instel, moet hy steun op ‘n uitsondering op die leerstuk van aparte regspersoonlikheid, te wete die moontlikheid om die sogenaamde korporatiewe sluier te deurdring. Hierdie proefskrif is ‘n regsvergelykende ondersoek van die beskerming van ‘n skuldeiser van ‘n insolvente maatskappy binne ‘n groep. Die toepaslike reg van Australië, Duitsland, Nieu-Seeland, die Verenigde Koninkryk en die Verenigde State van Amerika word ondersoek en vergelyk met die Suid-Afrikaanse regsposisie. Die proefskrif kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die Suid-Afrikaanse regsreëling onbevredigend is en deur geskikte wetgewing gewysig moet word.

in English The thesis deals with the protection of creditors during the liquidation of a company, under the new legislation, effective since 1st January 2014. Although the previous legislation was considered accurate and to a large extent has been adopted in the current regulation, there are some differences to the benefit and detriment of creditor protection, which I highlight in each chapter. The aim of my thesis is to analyze the most important elements of protecting creditors in the liquidation process and after its completion, gradually from the general, to those that provide protection to the creditors of the specific claims, such protection evaluate and highlight possible problems that can endanger the satisfaction of creditor or make it completely impossible. Outside the introduction and conclusion, this thesis consists of three logically consecutive chapters, viewed from the perspective of the protection of creditors. The initial chapter has essentially definitional character needed to determine the scope of my work and therefore is as brief as possible. The first chapter deals with the term creditor, as a concept, defining the group of persons, on whose protection I am focused in my thesis and with the concept of liquidation process as a term for the cancellation of a company without...

A Lei nº. 11.101, de 9 de fevereiro de 2005, alterou significativamente o regime jurídico da insolvência da empresa, atribuindo nova importância aos credores: de meros espectadores passaram à condição de protagonistas do processo concursal, com a prerrogativa de decidir a solução a ser dada à crise do devedor comum (seja pela via da recuperação, seja pela da falência). A vontade coletiva dos credores passa a ser determinada no âmbito da Assembleia- Geral de Credores, órgão caído em desuso na vigência do Decreto-Lei nº 7.661/45, mas que desempenha, no regime atual, funções de extremada importância. No processo da recuperação judicial, cabe à Assembleia-Geral de Credores deliberar sobre a aprovação, rejeição ou modificação do plano de recuperação apresentado pelo devedor, a constituição do Comitê de Credores, o pedido de desistência do devedor, a escolha do gestor judicial, bem como sobre quaisquer outras matérias que possam afetar os interesses dos credores. Já no âmbito da falência, incumbe-lhe, principalmente, decidir sobre a forma de liquidação dos ativos do devedor, a fim de maximizar o seu valor e conferir celeridade e eficiência ao processo. Por opção legislativa, não competirá ao Judiciário julgar a viabilidade econômica da empresa em crise ou decidir sobre a conveniência da recuperação ou da falência (isso é papel dos credores). A importância do juiz, nesse contexto, passa a ser outra, sobretudo para garantir que a negociação do devedor com os credores (e entre os próprios credores) seja conduzida de acordo com as formalidades e os princípios da lei, de modo a conferir legitimidade às deliberações tomadas. Além disso, caberá ao juiz tentar prevenir e, se necessário, reprimir o abuso pelo devedor e pelos credores das prerrogativas e direitos que lhes foram conferidos. Em linhas gerais, serão essas as matérias versadas nesta dissertação, que se propõe a analisar a situação jurídica dos credores e a sistemática da Assembleia-Geral, com algumas considerações acerca do controle judicial em face do abuso do direito de voto. / Law no. 11.101, dated February 9, 2005, significantly changed the legal system of companys insolvency, giving new importance to the creditors: from spectators in the past, they became protagonists of the insolvency process, with the prerogative to decide about the solution to be given to the common debtor crisis (either through reorganization or bankruptcy). The creditors collective will shall now be determined under the General Meeting of Creditors, organ fallen into disuse during the rule of Decree-Law no. 7.661/45, but that now plays, in the current system, functions of extreme importance. In the reorganization process, it is up to the General Meeting of Creditors to decide on the approval, rejection or modification of the plan submitted by the debtor, the constitution of the Creditors Committee, the waiver request of the debtor, the choice of a judicial manager, as well as on any other matters that may affect the interests of creditors. On the other hand, regarding to bankruptcy, the General Meeting of Creditors must, above all, decide how to liquidate the debtor\'s assets, in order to maximize their value and give speed and efficiency to the process. Due to legislative choice, it will not compete to the Courts to judge the economic viability of the company in crisis or to rule on the convenience of reorganization or bankruptcy (this is the role of the creditors). The importance of the judge in this context is now different, mainly to ensure that the negotiation between creditors and debtor (and among the creditors) is conducted in accordance with the procedures and principles of law, in order to give legitimacy to the resolution taken. Furthermore, it will be up to the judge to try to prevent and, if necessary, restrain the abuse, by debtor and creditors, of the rights and privileges conferred to them. In general, these are the matters that will be versed in this thesis, which proposes to analyze the legal status of creditors and the systematics of the General Meeting, with some considerations on judicial review of the abuse of the right to vote.

A presente tese versa sobre o fenômeno da confusão patrimonial nas sociedades isoladas e nos grupos societários. A tese propõe-se a: conceituar patrimônio social, examinando as suas principais características, funções e sua interatividade com o capital social; situar a pessoa jurídica como técnica de separação patrimonial; tentar alcançar um conceito de confusão patrimonial, diferenciando-a da confusão de esferas e apontando as insuficiências do estado atual da dogmática jurídica sobre a questão; examinar as principais características da confusão patrimonial, a saber a sua natureza, suas causas e seus efeitos (mais especificamente, os efeitos sobre os credores); caracterizar as diferentes formas pelas quais o fenômeno da confusão patrimonial se manifesta, bem como trabalhar com as exteriorizações desse fenômeno (indícios); apontar elementos que possam contribuir para a constatação judicial da confusão patrimonial; e apresentar e examinar algumas soluções para tutelar o interesse dos credores das sociedades que se encontram em situação de promiscuidade patrimonial. / This thesis discusses the phenomenon of commingling of assets in isolated companies and in groups of companies. It proposes to: define a concept of corporate asset, examining its main characteristics, roles and interaction with shareholders\' equity; assert the legal entity as a technique of separation of assets; attempt to reach a concept of commingling of assets, differentiating it from the mingling of spheres and pointing out current inefficiencies of the existing legal doctrine on the same issue; examine the leading characteristics of commingling of assets, namely its nature, causes and effects (more specifically, the effects on creditors); describe the different ways in which the phenomenon of commingling of assets is manifested, as well as discuss the materialization of this phenomenon (indicia); point out elements that may contribute to judicial analysis of issues related to commingling of assets; and, finally, propose and examine a number of solutions to safeguard creditors\' interests that find themselves in situations of asset promiscuity.

As informações contábeis são de grande importância para o equilíbrio do relacionamento entre os stakeholders, sendo direcionadoras para a alocação de seus recursos. A auditoria independente, nesse contexto, surge como um importante mecanismo que contribui para proporcionar confiabilidade a essas informações, reduzindo o conflito de agência inerente a esse relacionamento, ao expressar uma opinião sobre a adequação das demonstrações contábeis às praticas de contabilidade. Diversas são as empresas de auditoria independente cadastradas na Comissão de Valores Mobiliários para realizar tais trabalhos no Brasil; no entanto, quatro empresas se destacam nesse rol: PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, KPMG e Ernst & Young. Essas quatro empresas são mundialmente conhecidas como Big Four. Até 2001, tal grupo era denominado Big Five e tinha como integrante a Arthur Andersen, que deixou de atuar no ramo a partir de 2002. Este trabalho buscou verificar a participação dessas empresas no Brasil no período de 1997 a 2008. Para tanto, as empresas auditadas foram classificadas pelo ramo de atividade, controle acionário e negociação em bolsa de valores, a fim de verificar a participação das empresas de auditoria sob diferentes aspectos. A amostra foi composta de 2.024 empresas constantes do banco de dados da FIPECAFI no período contemplado na pesquisa. Os resultados apontam que, na média do período, aproximadamente 80% dos ativos das grandes empresas atuantes no Brasil são auditados por empresas do grupo Big Four. Em 2008 a líder geral no Brasil foi a KPMG, responsável por auditar mais de 30% dos ativos da amostra. Outro objetivo deste trabalho foi detectar características das empresas auditadas que poderiam ser indicadores para a empresa escolher um auditor componente do grupo das maiores empresas de auditoria independente, focando-se na influência dos credores nessa decisão. Para esse objetivo foram coletados dados contábeis das empresas auditadas, além das informações não contábeis já utilizadas na primeira análise de participação das auditadas (ramo de atividade, controle acionário e negociação em bolsa de valores) e aplicado o teste estatístico de regressão logística. Os resultados não mostraram que a situação econômica e financeira da auditada influencia essa escolha, mas apontaram para a importância do controle acionário e do porte da auditada. / Accounting information have great importance for the balance of the relationship among stakeholders, and driving to the allocation of its resources. The independent audit, in this context, emerged as an important mechanism that helps to provide reliability of this information, reducing the agency conflict inherent in that relationship, to express an opinion on the adequacy of financial statements to accounting practices. There are several independent auditing firms registered at the Securities Commission to carry out such works in Brazil, however, four companies stand out in this list: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, KPMG and Ernst & Young. These four companies are worldwide known as \"Big Four\". Until 2001, this group was called \"Big Five\" and had as a member Arthur Andersen, which no longer operate in the sector since 2002. This study aimed to verify their participation in Brazil from 1997 to 2008. For this, the audited companies were classified by line of business, stock control and trading on stock exchanges in order to assess the role of audit firms under different aspects. The sample consisted of 2024 companies listed in the database FIPECAFI the period covered in the survey. The results show that the average period of approximately 80% of the assets of large companies operating in Brazil are audited by firms of the group \"Big Four\". In 2008 the overall leader in Brazil was KPMG, responsible for auditing more than 30% of assets in the sample. Another objective was to identify characteristics of the audited companies that could be indicators for the company to choose an auditor of the component group of the largest independent audit, focusing on the influence of creditors in that decision. For this purpose, data were collected from accounting firms audited in addition to the information which were already used in the prior market share analysis (line of business, ownership control and stock trading on stock exchanges) and applied logistic regression statistical test. The results have shown that the economic and financial situation do not have any influence in that choice, but pointed the importance of ownership control and audited firms size in that choice.

Aim/Objective: The purpose of this paper is to investigate and analyze the early effects that could arise between entrepreneurs and lenders in connection with the auditing requirement, which has now been abolished. Through, empirical data identify the impact from the credit provider’s perspective and small business perspective and then make an overall assessment. Method:The authors are to achieve the purpose for this thesis through the use of both primary and secondary data. Primary data gathered through interviews and secondary data in the form of earlier thesis as well as articles. Result and conclusion: Banks have not prepared for the change in connection with the abolition of the audit requirement. Lenders look at repayment ability as the most important aspect of giving credit. Lenders argue that small businesses will retain the auditor of the company, because it will help them when granting credit. Creditors reveal that alternative internal methods prevail over revised reports approved by an auditor. However, small businesses reevaluate the function of the revised financial information. Small businesses welcomed the abolition of the audit requirement in the introductory phase, because it provides more flexibility of their resources. Suggestions for future research: Our proposal for further research is to investigate the Swedish market's capacity to raise the levels of the requirements, and examine which companies will be effected. Also to clarify what level the limit should be and examine the impact on lending to small business with such a change. Contribution of the thesis: The thesis will give an idea of how small businesses perceive the abolition of the audit requirement and how it will affect the lenders' review and decision making in the case of loans to small businesses. The thesis is primarily aimed towards auditors, lenders and small businesses. / Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka och analysera de tidiga effekter som kan tänkas uppstå mellan småföretagare och kreditgivare i samband med att redovisningsplikten avskaffats. Genom den insamlade empirin klarlägga effekterna ur kreditgivarnas samt småföretagsperspektiv för att sedan göra en samlad bedömning. Metod: Författarna har använt sig av både primär och sekundär data för att uppnå uppsatsens syfte. Primär data i form av intervjuer, sekundär data i form av tidigare uppsatser och artiklar. Sammanfattning: Bankerna har inte förberett sig för förändringen i samband med avskaffandet av revisonsplikten. Kreditgivarna ser återbetalningsförmågan som den viktigaste aspekten vid kreditgivning. Kreditgivarna vill argumentera för att småföretagarna ska behålla revisorn i företaget, eftersom det underlättar deras arbete vid kreditgivning. Kreditgivarna upplyser att alternativa interna metoder väger tyngre vid en kreditbedömning än reviderade rapporter godkänd av en revisor. Parallellt som småföretagarna omvärderar självaste funktionen av reviderad ekonomisk information. Småföretagarna ser positivt på avskaffandet av revisionsplikten i introduktionsfasen, eftersom de skapar flexibilitet i deras resurser.       Förslag till forskning: Vårt förslag till vidare forskning är att undersöka den svenska marknadens förmåga att höja gränsvärdena för företagen, samt undersöka vilka företag som kommer att bli berörda. Klargöra till vilken nivå gränsvärdena bör anpassas och undersöka effekterna på utlåning till småföretag vid en sådan förändring. Uppsatsens bidra: Uppsatsen kommer att stärka uppfattning om hur småföretag förhåller sig till avskaffandet av revisionsplikten, samt hur det påverkar långivarnas utvärdering och beslutsfattande i samband med lån till småföretag. Den riktar sig främst till revisorer, kreditgivare och småföretag.

Univ., Diss.--Genève, 2007.

The lack of clarity of Canadian insolvency legislation with respect to the treatment of environmental claims has left Canadian courts wondering whether they should advance the public order policies embodied in the environmental legislation or promote creditors' interests and the private relief afforded by bankruptcy. This thesis examines the state of the law on the question and provides a critical assessment of the legislation and the relevant case law. The author points to the flaws of the legislation and its judicial interpretation, while uncovering the underlying reasons for the existence of such a confused body of jurisprudence. Building on these findings, the author proposes a reform of the insolvency legislation that would uphold the protection of the environment as a fundamental value in Canadian society.

Actio Pauliana - tai vienas iš Lietuvos Respublikos civiliniame kodekse įtvirtintų kreditoriaus interesų gynimo būdų. Ilgą laiką dėl netinkamai suformuoto 1964 m. Lietuvos Respublikos civilinio kodekso reglamentavimo, kreditoriai retai naudojosi šiuo institutu, o teismų praktika buvo nedidelė. Actio Pauliana instituto tinkamas ir teisingas taikymas yra itin svarbus, nes juo ribojamos sutarties laisvės principo ribos. Svarbu ne tik apginti pažeistas kreditoriaus teises, bet kartu užtikrinti, kad nebūtų piktnaudžiaujama šiuo institutu ir skolininko teisės nebūtų nepagrįstai suvaržytos. Šio darbo tikslas yra išanalizuoti naujausią Lietuvos Aukščiausiojo Teismo suformuotą actio Pauliana taikymo praktiką, sudarant prielaidas vieningam ir nuosekliam šio civilinės teisės instituto pagrindimui, aiškinimui ir taikymui. Darbe apžvelgiama actio Pauliana instituto istorinė raida, reglamentavimas Lietuvos ir užsienio valstybėse. Detaliai analizuojama Lietuvos Aukščiausiojo Teismo suformuota praktika, nagrinėjamas actio Pauliana specifiškumas bankroto bylose bei akcentuojami probleminiai aspektai. Darbo pabaigoje, remiantis atliktu tyrimu, analize ir gautomis išvadomis, buvo patvirtinti magistro darbo pradžioje iškelti ginamieji teiginiai. Visų pirma, atliktas tyrimas parodė, kad besikeičiant socialiniams, ekonominiams santykiams keičiasi ir actio Pauliana instituto reglamentavimas Lietuvoje. Įsigaliojus naujajam Lietuvos Respublikos CK, priešingai nei galiojant 1964 m. civiliniam... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Paulian action is one of defences of creditors rights institute regulated by the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. For a long time this institute was not properly formed in the 1964 Civil Code, so creditors rarely used it and there were not too much court practise regarding this issue. A proper and correst application of the Paulian action is very important, because it limits freedom of contract principle. Paulian action application should not only protect creditors rights not be violated, but also prevent from misuse of this institute and also that debtors rights wouldn‘t be unduly restricted. The aim of this paper is to analize the newest Paulian action application practise of the Supreme Court of Lithuania, creating conditions for the uniform and consistent this institute substantiation, interpretation and application. This paper reviews the fountainhead of Paulian action insitute, its regulation in Lithuania and foreign countries. The paper also repesents detailed analysis of the Supreme Court of Lithuania practice, Paulian action specifity in bankruptcy cases and focus on the problematic aspects. At the end of the paper, were approved claims, which were raised in the beginning of the master's final work. Firstly, the investigation showed that because of constantly changes of social, economic relations, is changing Paulian action regulation in Lithuania. Also, when the new Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania came into force, on the contrary the 1964 Civil... [to full text]

Magistro baigiamojo darbo tikslas – remiantis Europos Sąjungos bei valstybių narių teisės aktais, teismų formuojama praktika ir doktrina, išanalizuoti ir įvertinti Bankroto reglamento bei valstybių narių nacionalinėje teisėje taikomas nuostatas, užtikrinančias kreditorių lygiateisiškumą bei atskleisti šio klausimo probleminius aspektus, pateikti probleminių klausimų teisinį vertinimą, taip pat teorinius ir praktinius sprendimo būdus. Pirmojoje darbo dalyje analizuojamos temai aktualios sąvokos ir jų sampratos. Visų pirma, analizuojama „bankroto“ sąvoka, įtvirtinta Tarybos reglamente Nr. 1346/2000 „Dėl bankroto bylų“ bei valstybių narių vidaus teisės sistemose. Autorė pastebi, kad Bankroto reglamente šiuo metu įtvirtintas bankroto bylų apibrėžimas yra pasenęs bei turi neigiamos įtakos kreditorių lygiateisiškumo užtikrinimui. Taip pat, šioje dalyje analizuojamos ir pateikiamos „kreditoriaus“ ir „kreditorių lygiateisiškumo arba principo parri passu (par conditio creditorum)“ sampratos. Antrojoje magistro baigiamojo darbo dalyje analizuojamas kreditorių lygiateisiškumo užtikrinimas Europos Sąjungos mąstu bei valstybių narių vidaus teisėje, aptariamos reglamentavimo spragos ir tendencijos. Dėmesys skiriamas kreditorių lygiateisiškumo principo užtikrinimui nuo bankroto bylos iškėlimo, t. y. nuo kreditorių reikalavimų pateikimo, jų tikrinimo ir tvirtinimo iki eiliškumo nustatymo, kadangi, šie pirminiai etapai turi lemiamos reikšmės tolimesniam bankroto procedūros vykdymui bei... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The objective of this graduating thesis for a master degree was to analyze and evaluate the provisions of the Insolvency Regulation and national laws of member states assuring the equality of creditors and to disclose the problematic aspects of this issue, to present the legal evaluation of topical issues as well as the theoretical and practical methods of a solution based on the legal acts of the European Union and member states, the practice and doctrine formed by courts. In the first part of this thesis, definitions and concepts relevant to the theme concerned were studied. First of all, the “insolvency” definition enacted by Council Regulation (EC) 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings and the national law systems of member states was analyzed. The author noted that the definition of insolvency lawsuits. which for the time being is enacted in the Insolvency Regulation, is out-of-date and negatively impacts the assurance of equality of creditors. In addition to this, in this part, the definitions of „the creditor“ and „the equality of creditors or the parri passu (par conditio creditorum) principle“ were presented and analyzed. In the second part of the graduation thesis for a master degree, the assurance of equality of creditors on the scales of the European Union and the national law of member states was analyzed, the gaps and tendencies of regulation were considered. Attention was paid to the assurance of the principle of equality of creditors from the moment of... [to full text]