Shelter from the Storm: Phoenix Activity and the Safe Harbour

37 Pages Posted: 25 Jul 2018

Abstract

A ‘safe harbour carve out’ from insolvent trading liability is intended to encourage directors, particularly of large companies, not to prematurely liquidate financially troubled companies which could be rescued. While the federal government has been successful in introducing this measure, which was part of its 2016 National Science and Innovation Agenda, this article argues that some of the underlying justifications for the safe harbour are flawed and that it may not be effective. A more significant objection is that the safe harbour could lead to a greater prevalence of illegal phoenix activity, sheltering under the appearance of business rescue. The benefit of the liability carve out to the ‘big end of town’ is not worth this risk.

Keywords: phoenix activity, insolvency, liquidation

JEL Classification: K00, K22

Suggested Citation

Anderson, Helen L., Shelter from the Storm: Phoenix Activity and the Safe Harbour. Melbourne University Law Review, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2018, U of Melbourne Legal Studies Research Paper No. 788, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3216939

Helen L. Anderson (Contact Author)

Melbourne Law School ( email )

University of Melbourne
Melbourne, 3010
Australia
+61 3 90355467 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
161
Abstract Views
2,579
Rank
332,714
PlumX Metrics