Limited Liability
Partnerships (Dissolution and Winding Up) (Jersey) Regulations 2018
PART 1
INTRODUCTION
1 Interpretation
(1) In these Regulations
“Law” means the Limited Liability Partnerships (Jersey)
Law 2017.
(2) For the purposes of
these Regulations, a limited liability partnership is insolvent if it is unable
to discharge its debts, excluding any liability to a partner or former partner
in respect of the partner’s partnership interest, as they fall due.
PART 2
DISSOLUTION of Limited Liability
Partnership
2 Application of Part 2
This Part applies to the
dissolution of any limited liability partnership.
3 Dissolution upon a change
in the partners in a partnership
Subject to
Regulation 4, a limited liability partnership shall not be dissolved by
any change in the persons who are partners in it unless the partnership
agreement so provides.
4 Dissolution upon
partnership ceasing to have 2 or more partners
(1) Subject to
Regulation 7, but despite any provision, express or implied, of the
partnership agreement to the contrary a limited liability partnership shall be
dissolved immediately upon there ceasing to be 2 or more partners in the
limited liability partnership.
(2) Where a limited
liability partnership is dissolved under paragraph (1), the last remaining
partner shall, within 28 days after the date of dissolution, deliver to
the registrar a statement of dissolution signed by that partner.
(3) Upon receiving a
statement under paragraph (2), the registrar shall register the statement
and issue a certificate of dissolution and shall –
(a) serve
the certificate on the limited liability partnership;
(b) register
the certificate; and
(c) publish
a notice stating that such a certificate has been issued.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5),
a last remaining partner who fails to comply with paragraph (1) shall be
guilty of an offence.
(5) A last remaining partner
shall not be guilty of an offence under paragraph (4) unless that partner
knew, or the circumstances of the dissolution are such that the last remaining
partner ought to have known, that the limited liability partnership had
dissolved.
(6) Subject to Article 22(6)
of the Law, a certificate issued under paragraph (2) is conclusive
evidence that the limited liability partnership is dissolved.
5 Dissolution by act of
partner or other occurrence
(1) Where a limited
liability partnership is dissolved by any act of a partner, or by any
occurrence (other than under Regulation 4(1) or by order of the Royal
Court), in either case, in accordance with the partnership agreement, the
secretary shall, within 28 days after the date of dissolution, deliver to
the registrar a statement of dissolution signed by the secretary.
(2) Upon receiving a
statement under paragraph (1), the registrar shall register the statement
and issue a certificate of dissolution and shall –
(a) serve
the certificate on the limited liability partnership;
(b) register
the certificate; and
(c) publish
a notice stating that such a certificate has been issued.
(3) Subject to paragraphs (4)
and (5), a secretary who fails to comply with paragraph (1) shall be
guilty of an offence.
(4) A secretary shall not
be guilty of an offence under paragraph (3) unless the secretary knew, or
the circumstances of the dissolution are such that the secretary ought to have
known, that the limited liability partnership had dissolved.
(5) If the limited
liability partnership has no secretary on the date of dissolution, the duty of
the secretary described in paragraph (1) shall rest with the partners who
were remaining on that date and, accordingly, if none of those partners comply
with paragraph (1), they shall all be jointly and severally guilty of an
offence.
(6) Subject to Article 22(6)
of the Law, a certificate issued under paragraph (2) is conclusive
evidence that the limited liability partnership is dissolved.
6 Power of Court to order
dissolution
(1) The Court may, on the
application of any partner in a limited liability partnership, order the
dissolution of the limited liability partnership in any of the following
cases –
(a) when
a partner, other than the partner making the application, becomes in any way
permanently incapable of performing that
partner’s part of the partnership
agreement;
(b) when
the Court, having regard to the nature of the partnership, is of the opinion
that a partner, other than the partner making the application, has been guilty
of conduct that would prejudicially affect the carrying on of the partnership
business;
(c) when
a partner, other than the partner making the application, wilfully or
persistently commits a breach of the partnership agreement, or otherwise
behaves in matters relating to the partnership business in such a manner that
it is not reasonably practicable for the other partner or partners to carry on
that business in partnership with that partner;
(d) when
the partnership business can only be carried on at a loss; or
(e) whenever
(in any case) circumstances have arisen which, in the opinion of the Court,
render it just and equitable that the limited liability partnership be
dissolved.
(2) Where the Court orders
the dissolution of a limited liability partnership under paragraph (1),
the partner making the application shall deliver a copy of the order to the
registrar within 28 days after it is made.
(3) Upon receiving an order
made under paragraph (1), the registrar shall –
(a) register
the order;
(b) issue
a certificate of dissolution; and
(c) publish
a notice stating that such a certificate has been issued.
(4) A partner making the
application under this Regulation who fails to comply with paragraph (2)
shall be guilty of an offence.
(5) Subject to Article 22(6)
of the Law, a certificate issued under paragraph (3) is conclusive
evidence that the limited liability partnership is dissolved.
7 Continuation of
partnership following dissolution
(1) Where, following
dissolution of a limited liability partnership but before completion of the
winding up of its affairs, 2 or more of the partners are to acquire the
partnership interests of each of the remaining partners, either by agreement or
upon a direction of the Court pursuant to Regulation 10(2), then upon such
acquisition taking place –
(a) the
winding up of the affairs of the limited liability partnership shall not be
completed and the limited liability partnership shall continue as if it had not
been dissolved; and
(b) the
partners whose interests are acquired shall be taken to retire from the limited
liability partnership.
(2) The limited liability
partnership shall, within 28 days after the acquisition described in
paragraph (1), send to the registrar a statement of cancellation of
dissolution signed by one of the acquiring partners, specifying the date when
the retiring partner’s interests are to be acquired, in addition to any
statement that must be sent under Article 19 of the Law.
(3) A limited liability
partnership that fails to comply with paragraph (2) shall be guilty of an
offence.
(4) Subject to paragraphs (5)
and (6), where, following dissolution of a limited liability partnership in the
circumstances described in Regulation 4(1) but before completion of the
winding up of its affairs, there is only one partner who intends to continue
the partnership by entering into a partnership agreement with one or more
persons who shall also acquire partnership interests in the limited liability
partnership, then subject to paragraph (5), upon giving notice of that
intention to the registrar –
(a) the
winding up of the affairs of the limited liability partnership shall not be
completed and the limited liability partnership shall continue as if it had not
been dissolved; and
(b) the
partners whose interests are acquired shall be taken to retire from the limited
liability partnership.
(5) The notice referred to
in paragraph (4) must be given to the registrar within 7 days of the
dissolution.
(6) Where notice is given
to the registrar under paragraph (4), the limited liability partnership
shall, within 90 days after the dissolution described in paragraph (4),
send to the registrar a statement of cancellation of dissolution signed by one
of the acquiring partners, specifying the date when the retiring
partners’ interests are to be acquired, in addition to any statement that
must be sent under Article 19 of the Law.
(7) Upon receiving a
statement under paragraph (2) or (6), the registrar shall register the
statement and issue a certificate to that effect, and shall –
(a) serve
the certificate on the limited liability partnership;
(b) register
the certificate; and
(c) publish
a notice stating that such a certificate has been issued.
(8) Where the limited
liability partnership fails comply with paragraph (5) or (6), the
dissolution of the limited partnership under Regulation 4(1) shall not be
void.
(9) A certificate issued
under paragraph (7) is conclusive evidence that the certificate of
dissolution issued under Regulation 5(2) in respect of the limited
liability partnership is void.
(10) For the purposes of Article 22(6)(b)
of the Law, the Court may make an order declaring a certificate of dissolution
void under Article 22(6) of the Law if –
(a) a certificate
of dissolution was issued in respect of the limited liability
partnership under Regulation 5 or 6 or this Regulation;
(b) Part 4
does not apply in respect of the limited liability partnership; and
(c) all
persons who were partners in the limited liability partnership immediately
before its dissolution consent to the order being made.
(11) For the purposes of Article 23(4)(b)
of the Law, the Court may make an order declaring the cancellation of
registration void under Article 23(4) of the Law if –
(a) the
limited liability partnership was not wound up under Part 4; and
(b) all
persons who were partners in the limited liability partnership immediately
before its dissolution consent to the order being made.
PART 3
Winding up of solvent limited liability partnership
8 Application
of Part 3
This Part applies in respect of the winding up of a solvent limited
liability partnership.
9 Winding up
(1) A limited liability
partnership that is solvent at the date of dissolution shall have its affairs
wound up by a dissolution manager in accordance with this Part.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3) –
(a) where
the limited liability partnership is dissolved in the circumstances described
in Regulation 4, the dissolution manager shall be the person who, at the
date of dissolution, was the last remaining partner or –
(i) if that partner
is deceased, his or her personal representatives, or
(ii) if
that partner is a body corporate that is in the course of being wound up, the
liquidator or person winding up the affairs of that partner;
(b) in
the event of the dissolution of a limited liability partnership in any other
circumstances, the dissolution manager shall be the person appointed by the
partners for the purpose or, if none, shall be all of the partners jointly.
(3) The Court may appoint
or remove a dissolution manager upon the application of –
(a) a
partner in the limited liability partnership;
(b) a
person who is the dissolution manager by virtue of paragraph (2) or
previously appointed as the dissolution manager under this paragraph; or
(c) any
other person who appears to the Court to be an
interested party, where the Court is
satisfied that a person described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) is unable or
unwilling to make an application under this paragraph.
(4) Subject to paragraphs (5)
and (6), the dissolution manager shall, as agent for the limited liability
partnership, do whatever is necessary or desirable to achieve a beneficial
winding up of the limited liability partnership’s affairs, or otherwise
as the partnership agreement may provide.
(5) If, at any stage during
the winding up of a limited liability partnership that was, or is believed to
have been, solvent at the date of dissolution, it becomes apparent that it was
insolvent at that date or has become insolvent following dissolution, the
dissolution manager shall –
(a) cease
winding it up pursuant to this Part; and
(b) take
the steps the dissolution manager is required to take under Part 4.
(6) Upon the dissolution of
a limited liability partnership in the circumstances described in Regulation 4(1),
or upon the limited liability partnership ceasing to have 2 or more partners at
any time during the winding up of its affairs following its dissolution in any
other circumstances –
(a) the
limited liability partnership shall cease to be a legal person, if no notice is
given under Article 7(4) within the time period specified in Article 7(5);
(b) the
duty to appoint a secretary under Article 8 of the Law shall cease to
apply;
(c) the
limited liability partnership property vested in the limited liability
partnership and the beneficial interest of the limited liability partnership in
any limited liability partnership property held by any person on its behalf,
shall vest in the dissolution manager;
(d) the
dissolution manager shall, in the person’s capacity as such, do whatever
is necessary or desirable to achieve a beneficial winding up of the limited
liability partnership’s affairs, or otherwise as
the partnership agreement may provide;
(e) any
proceedings which might have been continued or commenced against the limited
liability partnership may be continued or commenced against the dissolution
manager in that capacity;
(f) any
judgment obtained against the limited liability partnership prior to its
ceasing to have 2 or more partners and any judgment obtained against the
dissolution manager in any proceedings continued or commenced in accordance
with sub-paragraph (e) shall be enforceable only against the limited
liability partnership property.
(7) Where the name of a
limited liability partnership is inscribed in the Public Registry as the holder
of, or as having an interest in, immovable property, the dissolution manager,
in whom that property or interest vests by virtue of paragraph (6)(c)
shall deliver to the Judicial Greffier notice of such vesting within
28 days after the property so vests.
(8) It shall be an offence
for the dissolution manager to fail to comply with paragraph (7).
10 Power of Court to give directions as
to winding up
(1) The Court may give such
directions as it thinks fit in the course of the winding up of the affairs of a
limited liability partnership upon the application of –
(a) any
partner in the limited liability partnership;
(b) the
secretary of the limited liability partnership;
(c) any
creditor of the limited liability partnership;
(d) the
dissolution manager; or
(e) any
other person who appears to the Court to be an
interested party, where the Court is
satisfied that a person described in sub-paragraph (a), (b) (c) or (d) is
unable or unwilling to make an application under this paragraph.
(2) Without prejudice to
the discretion conferred by paragraph (1), on an application by the
relevant majority, the Court may give a direction that the applicants purchase
the partnership interest of each of the remaining partners at such a price and
otherwise upon such terms as it thinks fit.
(3) In paragraph (2),
“relevant majority” in relation to a limited liability partnership
shall have the meaning assigned to it for the purposes of that paragraph by the
partnership agreement or, if no meaning is so assigned, shall mean a majority
of the partners of which such partnership was composed at the date of its
dissolution, being either –
(a) a
majority of the partners by number; or
(b) such
number of partners as were at the date of dissolution together entitled to a
majority share of the limited liability partnership property remaining upon
dissolution, after payment of any liabilities described in
Regulation 11(1).
(4) In paragraph (2),
the reference to the partnership interest of each of the remaining partners
includes the partnership interest of any deceased partner and of any partner,
other than an individual, which has ceased to exist.
11 Settling accounts on winding up
(1) Where accounts are
settled in the course of the winding up of the affairs of a limited liability
partnership, the liabilities of the limited liability partnership shall be paid
in the following order of priority –
(a) payment
of any fees and penalties imposed by the Commission on the limited liability
partnership under the Law or any other enactment;
(b) subject to the provisions of any enactment as to preferential
payments, liabilities to creditors, excluding any partner or former partner in
the limited liability partnership in respect of the partner’s or former
partner’s partnership interest or in respect of any loan made by the
partner or former partner to the limited liability partnership for any purpose;
then
(c) subject
to the partnership agreement and to any agreement between the limited liability
partnership and the former partner in question –
(i) liabilities to
former partners in the limited liability partnership in respect of any loans
made by them to the limited liability partnership for any purpose, then
(ii) liabilities
to former partners in the limited liability partnership in respect of their
partnership interests; then
(d) subject
to the partnership agreement –
(i) liabilities to
partners in the limited liability partnership in respect of any loans made by
them to the limited liability partnership for any purpose, then
(ii) liabilities
to partners in the limited liability partnership in respect of their
partnership interests.
(2) Subject to the
partnership agreement, any limited liability partnership property remaining
after payment of the liabilities described in paragraph (1) shall be distributed
equally to the partners.
12 Completion of winding up
(1) Within 28 days
after the completion of the winding up of the affairs of a limited liability
partnership, a statement to that effect signed by the dissolution manager shall
be delivered to the registrar.
(2) It shall be an offence
for the dissolution manager to fail to comply with paragraph (1).
(3) Upon delivery of the
statement under paragraph (1), the registrar shall cancel the entry in the
register relating to the limited liability partnership and issue a certificate
of cancellation to the dissolution manager.
PART 4
WINDING UP of insolvent
Limited Liability Partnership
13 Application
and interpretation of Part 4
(1) This
Part applies in respect of the winding up of an insolvent limited liability
partnership, whether insolvent at the date of dissolution or becoming insolvent
following dissolution.
(2) In this Part –
“insolvency manager” means, in relation to an insolvent
limited liability partnership, the person for the time being appointed under
Regulation 17, 19 or 20 to be responsible for its insolvent
winding up;
“insolvency committee” means, in relation to an
insolvent limited liability partnership, the committee appointed under
Regulation 18.
14 Winding
up
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2)
and (3) –
(a) where
the limited liability partnership is dissolved in the circumstances described
in Regulation 4, the dissolution manager shall be the person who, at the
date of dissolution, was the last remaining partner or –
(i) if that partner
is deceased, his or her personal representatives, or
(ii) if
that partner is a body corporate that is in the course of being wound up, the
liquidator or person winding up the affairs of that partner;
(b) in
the event of the dissolution of a limited liability partnership in any other
circumstances, the dissolution manager shall be the person appointed by the
partners for the purpose or, if none, shall be all of the partners jointly;
(2) If the winding up of
the affairs of a limited liability partnership began at a stage during which
the limited liability partnership was, or was believed to have been, solvent at
the date of dissolution, the person who was the dissolution manager under Part 3
shall be the dissolution manager for the purposes of this Part.
(3) The Court may appoint
or remove a dissolution manager upon the application of –
(a) a
partner in the limited liability partnership;
(b) a
person who is the dissolution manager by virtue of paragraph (1) or (2)
or having been appointed as the dissolution manager under this paragraph; or
(c) any
other person who appears to the Court to be an
interested party, where the Court is
satisfied that a person described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) is unable or
unwilling to make an application under this paragraph.
(4) No appointment may be
made pursuant to paragraph (3) in respect of an insolvent limited
liability partnership after an insolvency manager is first appointed for it.
(5) Notwithstanding that a
partner continues to be an agent of the limited liability partnership, the
partner’s ability to bind the insolvent limited liability partnership
shall cease upon dissolution of the limited liability partnership.
(6) Upon the dissolution of
a limited liability partnership in the circumstances described in
Regulation 4, or upon the limited liability partnership ceasing to have 2
or more partners at any time during the winding up of its affairs following its
dissolution in any other circumstances –
(a) the
limited liability partnership shall cease to be a legal person;
(b) the
duty to appoint a secretary under Article 8 of the Law shall cease to
apply;
(c) the
limited liability partnership property vested in the limited liability
partnership and the beneficial interest of the limited liability partnership in
any limited liability partnership property held by any person on its behalf,
shall vest in the dissolution manager;
(d) any
proceedings which might have been continued or commenced against the limited
liability partnership may be continued or commenced against the dissolution
manager in that capacity;
(e) any
judgment obtained against the limited liability partnership prior to its
dissolution, and any judgment obtained against the dissolution manager in any
proceedings continued or commenced in accordance with sub-paragraph (d),
shall be enforceable only against the limited liability partnership property.
(7) Where the name of a
limited liability partnership is inscribed in the Public Registry as the holder
of, or as having an interest in, immovable property, the dissolution manager,
in whom that property or interest vests by virtue of paragraph (6)(c)
shall deliver to the Judicial Greffier notice of such vesting within
28 days after the property so vests.
(8) It shall be an offence
for the dissolution manager to fail to comply with paragraph (7).
15 Partnership
insolvent upon or following dissolution
(1) If the dissolution
manager becomes aware, or forms the opinion, that the limited liability
partnership is insolvent at the date of dissolution or at any time following
dissolution, the dissolution manager –
(a) shall
within 7 days of becoming aware, or forming the opinion, send a notice of
that fact to the registrar; and
(b) shall –
(i) by not less than
14 days’ notice, call a meeting of all known creditors of the
limited liability partnership, to be held within Jersey within 28 days of
sending the notice referred to in sub-paragraph (a) and, in the notice,
nominate an insolvency manager,
(ii) not
less than 10 days before the day for which the meeting is called under
clause (i), publish a notice of the meeting,
(iii) when
the notice is given to the creditors under clause (i), deliver a copy of
it to the registrar,
(iv) during
the period before the creditors’ meeting is held, furnish any creditor
free of charge with such information concerning the affairs of the limited
liability partnership as the creditor may reasonably request, and
(v) make out a statement as
to the affairs of the limited liability partnership and lay that statement
before the creditors’ meeting.
(2) If the dissolution
manager is qualified for appointment as the insolvency manager for the limited
liability partnership, the dissolution manager may nominate himself or herself
under paragraph (1)(b)(i).
(3) The dissolution manager
shall be the chairman at the creditors’ meeting.
(4) During the period after
which the dissolution manager becomes aware or forms the opinion that the
limited liability partnership is insolvent and before the appointment of an
insolvency manager, the dissolution manager shall not take any action, except
action sanctioned by the Court, in respect of the limited liability
partnership, other than to secure compliance with this Regulation or to protect
the limited liability partnership property.
(5) The insolvent winding
up of a limited liability partnership commences –
(a) where
the limited liability partnership is insolvent upon dissolution, on the date of
dissolution; and
(b) where
the partnership becomes insolvent following dissolution, on the day on which
the creditors’ meeting is held.
(6) A dissolution manager
who fails to comply with any requirement in paragraph (1) or (3) shall be
guilty of an offence.
(7) A dissolution manager
who fails to comply with paragraph (4) shall be guilty of an offence.
(8) The registrar shall
publish a notice, or copy of a notice, received under this Regulation.
16 Procedure
at creditors’ meeting
(1) Any meeting of
creditors of an insolvent limited liability partnership is competent to act if
a quorum is present.
(2) A creditors’
meeting shall not be competent to act unless there are present in person or by
proxy at least 3 creditors, or all of the creditors if their number does
not exceed 3, being in either case entitled to vote.
(3) Every creditor who has
been given notice of a creditors’ meeting shall be entitled to vote at
the meeting or any adjournment of it.
(4) Votes shall be
calculated according to the amount of the creditor’s debt on the day the
insolvent winding up commences.
(5) A creditor shall not
vote in respect of a debt for an unliquidated amount, or any debt whose value
is not ascertained, except where the dissolution manager (or, if an insolvency
manager has been appointed, the insolvency manager) agrees to put upon the debt
an estimated minimum value for the purpose of entitlement to vote.
(6) For a resolution to
pass at a creditors’ meeting it must be supported by creditors the values
of whose votes are at least half the value of the votes of the creditors who
vote on the resolution.
17 Appointment
of insolvency manager
(1) The creditors at a
creditors’ meeting may nominate an insolvency manager.
(2) The person nominated by
the creditors to be insolvency manager or, if none, the person nominated by the
dissolution manager, is appointed with effect from the conclusion of the
creditors’ meeting.
(3) A creditor or partner
of the limited liability partnership or the dissolution manager may, within 7 days
after the day on which the nomination was made by the creditors, apply to the
Court for an order either –
(a) directing
that the person nominated by the dissolution manager shall be the insolvency
manager instead of or jointly with the person nominated by the creditors; or
(b) appointing
some other person to be the insolvency manager.
(4) Upon the appointment of
the insolvency manager –
(a) all
the powers and duties of the dissolution manager shall cease;
(b) any
limited liability partnership property and any beneficial interest of the
limited liability partnership in any limited liability partnership property
vested in the dissolution manager pursuant to Regulation 9(6)(c) or
14(6)(c) shall vest in the insolvency manager; and
(c) any
proceedings which might have been continued or commenced against the limited
liability partnership, or against the dissolution manager pursuant to
Regulation 9(6)(e) or 14(6)(d), may only be continued or commenced against
the insolvency manager in the insolvency manager’s capacity as such.
(5) Where the name of the
dissolution manager is inscribed in the Public Registry as the holder of, or as
having an interest in, immovable property which vests in the insolvency manager
by virtue of paragraph (4)(b), the insolvency manager shall deliver to the
Judicial Greffier notice of the vesting, within 28 days after the property
so vests.
(6) Any
judgment –
(a) obtained
against the limited liability partnership prior to its dissolution, or obtained
against its dissolution manager under Article 9(6)(f), which has not been
satisfied before the limited liability partnership became insolvent; or
(b) obtained
against the insolvency manager in the insolvency manager’s capacity as
such in any proceedings continued or commenced in accordance with paragraph (4)(c),
shall only be enforceable against the limited liability partnership
property.
(7) The insolvency manager
shall, within 14 days of the insolvency manager’s appointment,
deliver notice thereof to the registrar and to the creditors.
(8) An insolvency manager
who fails to comply with paragraphs (5) or (7) shall be guilty of an
offence.
18 Appointment
of insolvency committee
(1) A creditors’
meeting may, in addition to appointing an insolvency manager under
Regulation 17, appoint an insolvency committee consisting of not more than
5 persons to exercise the functions conferred on it by this Part.
(2) If an insolvency committee
is appointed, the partners of the limited liability partnership may appoint
such number of persons not exceeding 5 as they think fit to act as members
of that insolvency committee.
(3) The creditors may
resolve that all or any of the persons so appointed by the partners ought not
to be members of the insolvency committee and, if the creditors so
resolve –
(a) the
persons mentioned in the resolution are not then, unless the Court otherwise
directs, qualified to act as members of that insolvency committee; and
(b) on an
application to the Court under this provision, the Court may appoint other
persons to act as such members in place of the persons mentioned in the
resolution.
(4) The insolvency
committee shall, within 14 days of the insolvency committee’s
appointment, deliver notice thereof to the registrar.
19 Remuneration
of and vacancy in office of insolvency manager
(1) An insolvency manager
is entitled to receive such remuneration as is agreed between the insolvency
manager and the insolvency committee or, if there is no insolvency committee,
between the insolvency manager and the creditors or, failing any such
agreement, as is fixed by the Court.
(2) The creditors at a
creditor’s meeting may remove an insolvency manager other than an
insolvency manager appointed by the Court.
(3) If a vacancy occurs, by
death, resignation or otherwise, in the office of the insolvency
manager –
(a) the
creditors may appoint another insolvency manager, except when the appointment
in respect of which the vacancy now arises was by the Court; and
(b) the
Court may appoint another insolvency manager upon an application made under
Regulation 17(3) when the appointment in respect of which the vacancy now
arises was by the Court.
(4) Where a vacancy in the
office of insolvency manager is filled, either by appointment by the creditors
or by the Court, Regulation 17(4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) shall apply for
the purposes of notification of the appointment to the registrar and the
vesting of such property in, the continuation and commencement of such
proceedings against and the payment of any amount to, the new insolvency
manager as was formerly vested in or might have been continued or commenced
against or paid to, the previous insolvency manager in the insolvency
manager’s capacity as such, as if any reference in them to the person
responsible for winding up the affairs of the limited liability partnership
were a reference to the previous insolvency manager and any reference to the
insolvency manager were a reference to the new insolvency manager.
20 Appointment
or removal by the Court of insolvency manager
(1) If for any reason there
is no insolvency manager in an insolvent winding up, the Court may, on the
application of a person who appears to be an interested party, appoint such a person.
(2) The Court may, on the application
of any person who appears to the Court to be an interested party, remove an
insolvency manager and appoint another.
21 Reference
of questions and powers to the Court
(1) The insolvency manager,
a partner in the limited liability partnership or a creditor of the limited
liability partnership may apply to the Court for the Court to –
(a) determine
a question arising in an insolvent winding up; or
(b) exercise
all or any of the powers which the Court or the Viscount might exercise if a
declaration had been made in relation to the limited liability partnership
under the Bankruptcy (Désastre)
(Jersey) Law 1990.
(2) The Court may accede
wholly or partially to the application on such terms and conditions as it
thinks fit or may make such other order on the application as it thinks just.
(3) An Act of the Court
recording the making of an order under this Regulation staying the proceedings
in the winding up shall, within 14 days after the making of the order, be
delivered by the insolvency manager, or otherwise as may be ordered by the
Court, to the registrar, who shall register it.
(4) A person who fails to
deliver an order to the registrar, as required by paragraph (3), shall be
guilty of an offence.
22 Application
of the law relating to désastre
(1) Subject to paragraph (2),
in an insolvent winding up, the same rules prevail with regard to –
(a) the
respective rights of secured and unsecured creditors;
(b) debts
provable;
(c) the
time and manner of proving any debt;
(d) the
admission and rejection of the proof of any debt;
(e) the
setting off of any debts; or
(f) subject
to the provision in Regulation 24(1), the order of payment of debts,
as are in force for the time being with respect to persons against
whom a declaration has been made under the Bankruptcy (Désastre) (Jersey)
Law 1990 with the substitution of references to the insolvency manager and
to the commencement of the insolvent winding up respectively for references to
the Viscount and to the date of the declaration.
(2) Any surplus remaining
after payment of the debts proved in the insolvent winding up, before being
applied for any other purpose, shall be applied in paying interest on those
debts which bore interest prior to the commencement of the insolvent winding
up –
(a) in
respect of the period during which they have been outstanding since the
commencement of the insolvent winding up; and
(b) at
the rate of interest that applied in respect of those debts before the winding
up.
23 Arrangement
when binding on creditors
(1) An arrangement entered
into between a limited liability partnership and its creditors immediately
preceding the commencement of an insolvent winding up or in the course of an
insolvent winding up, or between the insolvency manager and the creditors in
the course of an insolvent winding up, is (subject to the right of appeal under
paragraph (2)) binding –
(a) on
the limited liability partnership;
(b) on
the insolvency manager; and
(c) on
the creditors, if acceded to by three-quarters in number and value of them.
(2) A creditor may, within 3 weeks
from the completion of the arrangement, appeal to the Court against it and the
Court may upon such appeal amend, vary or confirm the arrangement, as it thinks
just.
24 Settling
accounts on winding up
(1) Where accounts are
settled in the course of the winding up of the affairs of a limited liability
partnership, the liabilities of the limited liability partnership shall be paid
in the following order of priority –
(a) payment
of any fees and penalties imposed by the Commission on the limited liability
partnership under the Law or any other enactment;
(b) payment
of the insolvency manager’s costs and remuneration;
(c) subject
to the provisions of any enactment as to preferential payments, liabilities to
creditors, excluding any partner or former partner in the limited liability
partnership in respect of the partner’s or former partner’s
partnership interest or in respect of any loan made by the partner or former
partner to the limited liability partnership for any purpose;
(d) subject
to the partnership agreement and to any agreement between the limited liability
partnership and the former partner in question –
(i) liabilities to
former partners in the limited liability partnership in respect of any loans
made by them to the limited liability partnership for any purpose, then
(ii) liabilities
to former partners in the limited liability partnership in respect of their
partnership interests; then
(e) subject
to the partnership agreement –
(i) liabilities to
partners in the limited liability partnership in respect of any loans made by
them to the limited liability partnership for any purpose, then
(ii) liabilities
to partners in the limited liability partnership in respect of their
partnership interests.
(2) Subject to the
partnership agreement, any surplus of limited liability partnership property
remaining after payment of the liabilities described in paragraph (1),
including interest referred to in Regulation 22(2), shall be distributed
equally to the partners.
(3) All costs, charges and
expenses properly incurred in the winding up of an insolvent limited liability
partnership, including the remuneration of the insolvency manager, are payable
out of the limited liability partnership property in accordance with Regulation 22(1)
and paragraph (1).
25 Meetings
of insolvent limited liability partnership and creditors
(1) If an insolvent winding
up continues for more than 12 months, the insolvency manager shall call a
meeting of the partners in the limited liability partnership and a meeting of
its creditors, to be held on the first convenient date within 3 months
after the end of the first 12 months from the commencement of the
insolvent winding up, and of each succeeding 12 months or such longer
period as the registrar may allow, shall lay before the meetings a report
giving an account of the insolvency manager’s acts and dealings and of
the conduct of the winding up during the preceding 12 months.
(2) The insolvency manager
shall, not less than 21 days before a meeting referred to in paragraph (1),
serve on the partners and creditors of the limited liability partnership and
deliver to the registrar a notice of each meeting, together with a copy of the
insolvency manager’s report referred to in paragraph (1).
(3) The registrar shall
publish the copy of the insolvency manager’s report delivered to it under
paragraph (2).
(4) For the purpose of
paragraph (2) service shall be treated as having been
effected –
(a) on a
partner if the notice and report are delivered to the partner either by such
means as the insolvency manager and the partner agree or, in the absence of any
such agreement, in accordance with Article 25 of the Law; and
(b) on a
creditor if the notice and report are delivered to the creditor either by such
means as the insolvency manager and creditor agree, or in the absence of any
such agreement, if they are served on the creditor by post.
(5) An insolvency manager
who fails to comply with paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an
offence.
26 Insolvency
manager’s report on completion of winding up
(1) As soon as the affairs
of an insolvent limited liability partnership are fully wound up, the
insolvency manager shall prepare a report of the winding up, showing how it has
been conducted and how the limited liability partnership property has been
disposed of, and thereupon shall call a meeting of the partners in the limited
liability partnership and a meeting of its creditors for the purpose of laying
the report before the meetings and giving an explanation of it.
(2) Notice of each meeting,
together with a copy of the insolvency manager’s report of the winding
up, must be served on the partners and creditors of the limited liability
partnership not less than 21 days before the meeting.
(3) For the purpose of
paragraph (2) service shall be treated as having been
effected –
(a) on a
partner if the notice and report are delivered to the partner either by such
means as the insolvency manager and the partner agree or, in the absence of any
such agreement, in accordance with Article 25 of the Law; and
(b) on a
creditor if the notice and report are delivered to the creditor either by such
means as the insolvency manager and creditor agree, or in the absence of any
such agreement, if they are served on the creditor by post.
(4) An insolvency manager
who fails to comply with paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an
offence.
27 Completion
of winding up
(1) Within 7 days
after the date of the meetings described in Regulation 26 (or, if they are
not held on the same day, after the date of the later one) the insolvency
manager shall deliver to the registrar –
(a) subject
to paragraphs (2) and (3), a statement signed by the insolvency manager of
the holding of the meetings and their dates; and
(b) a
copy of the insolvency manager’s report.
(2) If a quorum is not
present at the creditors’ meeting, the insolvency manager shall, in lieu
of the statement required by paragraph (1)(a), deliver to the registrar a
statement that the meeting was duly called and that no quorum was present.
(3) If all the partners, or
so many of the partners as the partnership agreement requires, are not present
at the partners’ meeting, the insolvency manager shall, in lieu of the
statement required by paragraph (1)(a), deliver to the registrar a statement
that the meeting was duly called but not held.
(4) An insolvency manager
who fails to comply with paragraph (1), (2) or (3) shall be guilty of an
offence.
28 Effect
of declaration that a limited liability partnership is en désastre
(1) Where a declaration, or
an order recalling a declaration, is made in respect of a limited liability
partnership, the Viscount shall deliver a copy of the declaration or order to
the registrar within 28 days of its being made.
(2) Upon receiving a copy
of a declaration or of an order recalling a declaration, the registrar shall
register it and issue a certificate to that effect.
(3) In this
Regulation –
“declaration” shall have the same meaning as in the Bankruptcy (Désastre) (Jersey)
Law 1990; and
“order recalling a declaration” shall be construed in
accordance with Article 7 of that Law.
29 Cancellation
of registration following insolvent winding up
(1) Upon receipt
of –
(a) a
statement delivered to the registrar under Regulation 27; or
(b) notification
under Article 36(3) of the Bankruptcy (Désastre) (Jersey)
Law 1990,
in respect of an insolvent limited liability partnership, the registrar
shall forthwith register the statement or notification.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3),
at the end of 3 months from the registration of the statement or
notification under paragraph (1), the registrar shall cancel the entry in
the register relating to the limited liability partnership and issue a
certificate of cancellation to the insolvency manager or the Viscount, as the
case may require.
(3) The Court may, on the
application of the insolvency manager or Viscount, as the case may require, or
of another person who appears to the Court to be interested, make an order
deferring the date on which a certificate of cancellation of registration is
issued to such date as the Court thinks fit.
(4) The person on whose
application an order of the Court under paragraph (3) is made shall,
within 14 days after the making of the order, deliver to the registrar the
order of the Court for registration.
(5) A person on whose
application the order is made who fails to comply with paragraph (4) shall
be guilty of an offence.
30 Powers
and duties of insolvency manager
(1) An insolvency manager
may, with the sanction of the Court or the insolvency committee (or, if there
is no such committee, a meeting of the creditors) –
(a) pay a
class of creditors in full;
(b) compromise
any claim by or against the limited liability partnership, or by or against the
dissolution manager or the insolvency manager under these Regulations.
(2) An insolvency manager
may, without sanction, exercise any power of the limited liability partnership
other than a power under paragraph (1) that may be required for the
beneficial winding up of the limited liability partnership’s affairs.
(3) An insolvency manager
may summon a meeting of the partners of the limited liability partnership for
the purpose of obtaining their sanction for any other purpose the insolvency
manager may think fit.
(4) The insolvency manager
shall pay the debts of the limited liability partnership in accordance with
this Part.
(5) The appointment or
nomination of more than one insolvency manager shall declare whether any act to
be done is to be done by all or any one or more of them and, in default, any
such act may be done by 2 or more of them.
31 Power
to disclaim onerous property
(1) The insolvency manager
may, within 6 months after the commencement of the insolvent winding up,
by the giving of notice signed by the insolvency manager and referring to this
Regulation and Regulation 32 to each person who is interested in, or under
any liability in respect of, the property disclaimed, disclaim any onerous
movable property, or any onerous immovable property, and may do so
notwithstanding that the insolvency manager has taken possession of it,
endeavoured to sell it or otherwise exercised rights of ownership in relation
to it.
(2) For the purposes of
this Regulation –
(a) onerous
movable property is any –
(i) unprofitable
contract,
(ii) a
contract lease, and
(iii) other
movable property of the limited liability partnership which is unsaleable or
not readily saleable or is such that it may give rise to a liability to pay
money or perform any other onerous act;
(b) onerous
immovable property is any immovable property of the limited liability
partnership situated outside Jersey and having the characteristics mentioned in
sub-paragraph (a)(iii).
(3) A disclaimer under this
Regulation –
(a) shall
operate so as to determine, as from the date of the disclaimer, the rights,
interests and liabilities of the limited liability partnership in or in respect
of the property disclaimed; but
(b) shall
not, except so far as is necessary for the purpose of releasing the limited
liability partnership from liability, affect the rights or liabilities of any
other person.
(4) A person sustaining
loss or damage in consequence of the operation of a disclaimer under this
Regulation shall be deemed to be a creditor of the limited liability
partnership to the extent of the loss or damage in the winding up.
32 Power
of Court in respect of disclaimed property
(1) This Regulation applies
where the insolvency manager has disclaimed property under Regulation 31.
(2) An application may be
made to the Court under this Regulation by –
(a) a person
who claims an interest in the disclaimed property; or
(b) a person
who is under a liability in respect of the disclaimed property, not being a
liability discharged by the disclaimer.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4),
the Court may, on an application under this Regulation, make an order on such
terms as it thinks fit for the vesting of the disclaimed property in, or for
its delivery to –
(a) a person
entitled to it or a trustee for such a person; or
(b) a person
subject to a liability mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) or a trustee for such
a person.
(4) The Court shall not
make an order by virtue of paragraph (3)(b) except where it appears to the
Court that it would be just to do so for the purpose of compensating the person
subject to the liability in respect of the disclaimer.
(5) The effect of an order
under this Regulation shall be taken into account in assessing for the purpose
of Regulation 31(4) the extent of loss or damage sustained by a person in
consequence of the disclaimer.
33 Unenforceability
of liens on records
(1) Subject to paragraph (2),
in an insolvent winding up, a lien or other right to retain possession of any
records of a limited liability partnership shall be unenforceable to the extent
that its enforcement would deny possession of those records to the insolvency
manager.
(2) Paragraph (1) does
not apply to a lien on documents which give a title to property and are held as
such.
34 Transactions
at an undervalue and preferences
(1) Where an insolvent
limited liability partnership has at a relevant time –
(a) entered
into a transaction with any person at an undervalue; or
(b) given
a preference to any person,
the insolvency manager may apply to the Court for such order as the
Court thinks fit for restoring the position to what it would have been if the
limited liability partnership had not entered into that transaction or given
that preference, as the case may be.
(2) For the purposes of
this Regulation, a limited liability partnership enters into a transaction with
a person at an undervalue if the limited liability partnership –
(a) makes
a gift to that person or otherwise enters into a transaction with that person
on terms for which there is no “cause”; or
(b) enters
into a transaction with that person for a “cause” the value of
which, in money or money’s worth, is significantly less than the value,
in money or money’s worth, of the cause provided by the limited liability partnership.
(3) For the purposes of
this Regulation, a limited liability partnership gives a preference to a person
if –
(a) that person
is one of the creditors of the limited liability partnership or a surety or
guarantor for any of the debts or other liabilities of the limited liability
partnership; and
(b) the
limited liability partnership –
(i) does anything, or
(ii) suffers
anything to be done,
which has the effect of putting that person into a position which,
in the event of the insolvent winding up of the limited liability partnership,
will be better than the position the person would have been in if that thing
had not been done.
(4) The Court shall not
make an order under this Regulation in respect of a preference given to any person
unless the limited liability partnership which gave it was influenced in
deciding to give it by a desire to produce in relation to that person the
effect referred to in paragraph (3)(b).
(5) Subject to paragraph (6),
the time at which a limited liability partnership enters into a transaction at
an undervalue or gives a preference is a relevant time if the transaction is
entered into or the preference given –
(a) in
the case of a transaction at an undervalue, at a time in the period of 5 years
ending with the date of commencement of the insolvent winding up;
(b) in
the case of a preference which is not a transaction at an undervalue, at a time
in the period of one year ending with that date.
(6) Subject to paragraph (7),
where a limited liability partnership enters into a transaction at an
undervalue or gives a preference at a time mentioned in paragraph (5)(a)
or (b), that time is not a relevant time unless the limited liability
partnership –
(a) is at
that time unable to pay its debts as they fall due; or
(b) becomes
unable to pay its debts as they fall due in consequence of the transaction or
preference.
(7) Paragraph (6)
shall not apply to a transaction at an undervalue which takes place less than 2 years
before the date of commencement of the insolvent winding up.
(8) In this Regulation,
“cause” has the meaning
assigned to it by the customary law of Jersey.
35 Responsibility
for debts and wrongful trading
(1) Where any limited
liability partnership property, including a share in the limited liability
partnership’s profits, is withdrawn by a partner at a time when the
limited liability partnership is unable to pay its debts, or if the limited
liability partnership becomes unable to pay its debts as a result of the
withdrawal, the partner shall be liable for any debt or loss to which Article 4(1)
of the Law applies, but the partner’s liability shall be limited to an
amount equal to the value of the withdrawal, less any amount previously
recovered from him by virtue of this Regulation or Article 5 or 12 of
the Law.
(2) Notwithstanding Article 5
of the Law but subject to paragraph (5), if, in the course of an insolvent
winding up, it appears that paragraph (1) applies in relation to a person
who is or has been a partner of the limited liability partnership, the Court,
on the application of the insolvency manager, may, if it thinks it proper to do
so, order that that person be personally responsible, without any limitation of
liability, for all or any of the debts or other liabilities of the limited
liability partnership arising after the time referred to in paragraph (3).
(3) This paragraph applies
in relation to a person if –
(a) at
some time before the date of commencement of the insolvent winding up that person –
(i) knew that there was
no reasonable prospect that the limited liability partnership would avoid
insolvency, or
(ii) on
the facts known to the person was reckless as to whether the limited liability
partnership would avoid insolvency; and
(b) that person
was a partner in the limited liability partnership at that time.
(4) For the purposes of
paragraph (3), a person shall not be treated as having had knowledge of
any matter by reason only that another partner in the limited liability
partnership had such knowledge.
(5) The Court shall not
make an order under paragraph (2) with respect to any person if it is
satisfied that after either condition specified in paragraph (3)(a) was first
satisfied in relation to the person that person took reasonable steps with a
view to minimizing the potential loss to creditors of the limited liability
partnership.
(6) On the hearing of an
application under this Regulation, the insolvency manager may give evidence or
call witnesses.
36 Responsibility
for fraudulent trading
(1) If, in the course of an
insolvent winding up, it appears that any business of the limited liability
partnership has been carried on with intent to defraud creditors of the limited
liability partnership or creditors of another person, or for a fraudulent
purpose, the Court may, on the application of the insolvency manager, order
that persons who were knowing parties to the carrying on of the business in
that manner are to be liable to make such contributions to the limited
liability partnership property as the Court thinks proper.
(2) For the purposes of
paragraph (1) a partner in a limited liability partnership shall not be
treated as having been a knowing party to the carrying on of the business in
the manner described in that paragraph by reason only that another partner in the
limited liability partnership was knowingly such a party.
(3) On the hearing of an
application under this Regulation the insolvency manager may give evidence or
call witnesses.
(4) Where the Court makes
an order under this Regulation or Regulation 35, it may give such further
directions as it thinks proper for giving effect to the order.
(5) Where the Court makes
an order under this Regulation or Regulation 35 in relation to a person
who is a creditor of the limited liability partnership, it may direct that the
whole or part of a debt owed by the limited liability partnership to that person
and any interest thereon shall rank in priority after all other debts owed by
the limited liability partnership and after any interest on those debts.
(6) This Regulation and
Regulation 35 have effect notwithstanding that the person concerned may be
criminally liable in respect of matters on the ground of which the order under
paragraph (1) is to be made.
37 Extortionate
credit transactions
(1) This Regulation applies
in an insolvent winding up where the limited liability partnership is, or has
been, a party to a transaction for, or involving, the provision of credit to
the limited liability partnership.
(2) The Court may, on the
application of the insolvency manager, make an order with respect to the
transaction if the transaction is or was extortionate and was entered into in
the period of 3 years ending with the commencement of the insolvent
winding up.
(3) For the purposes of
this Regulation, a transaction is extortionate if, having regard to the risk
accepted by the person providing the credit –
(a) the
terms of it are or were such as to require grossly exorbitant payments to be
made (whether unconditionally or in certain contingencies) in respect of the
provision of the credit; or
(b) it
otherwise grossly contravened ordinary principles of fair dealing,
and it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that a
transaction with respect to which an application is made under this Regulation
is, or as the case may be, was extortionate.
(4) An order under this
Regulation with respect to a transaction may contain one or more of the
following as the Court thinks fit –
(a) provision
setting aside the whole or part of an obligation created by the transaction;
(b) provision
otherwise varying the terms of the transaction or varying the terms on which a
security for the purposes of the transaction is held;
(c) provision
requiring a person who is or was a party to the transaction to pay to the
insolvency manager sums paid to that person, by virtue of the transaction, by
the limited liability partnership;
(d) provision
requiring a person to surrender to the insolvency manager property held by the person
as security for the purposes of the transaction;
(e) provision
directing accounts to be taken between any persons.
38 Application
of provisions to insolvent limited liability partnership en désastre
Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in the Bankruptcy (Désastre) (Jersey)
Law 1990, Regulations 35, 36, and 37 shall apply to an insolvent
limited liability partnership in respect of which a désastre is declared under the Bankruptcy (Désastre) (Jersey)
Law 1990 as if –
(a) any reference to an
insolvent winding up was a reference to a désastre;
and
(b) any reference to the
insolvency manager was a reference to the Viscount.
39 Delivery
and seizure of property
(1) Where a person has in the
person’s possession or control property or records to which a limited
liability partnership appears in an insolvent winding up to be entitled, the
Court may require that person forthwith (or within a period which the Court may
direct) to pay, deliver, convey, surrender or transfer the property or records
to the insolvency manager.
(2) Where –
(a) the
insolvency manager seizes or disposes of property which is not property of the
limited liability partnership; and
(b) at
the time of seizure or disposal the insolvency manager believes, and has
reasonable grounds for believing, that the insolvency manager is entitled
(whether in pursuance of an order of the Court or otherwise) to seize or
dispose of that property,
the insolvency manager shall not be liable to any person in respect
of loss or damage resulting from the seizure or disposal except in so far as
that loss or damage is caused by the negligence of the insolvency manager, and
shall have a lien on the property, or the proceeds of its sale, for expenses
incurred in connection with the seizure or disposal.
40 Duty
to co-operate with insolvency manager
(1) In an insolvent winding
up, each of the persons mentioned in paragraph (2) shall –
(a) give
the insolvency manager information concerning the limited liability partnership
and its establishment, business, dealings, affairs, or property which the
insolvency manager may at any time after the commencement of the insolvent
winding up reasonably require; and
(b) attend
on the insolvency manager at reasonable times and on reasonable notice when
requested to do so.
(2) The persons referred to
in paragraph (1) are –
(a) those
who are, or have at any time been, partners in the limited liability
partnership or have at any time held themselves out to be partners in the
limited liability partnership;
(b) any
person who is or has been a secretary of the limited liability partnership;
(c) those
who are in the employment of the limited liability partnership, or have been in
its employment within one year before the commencement of the insolvent winding
up, and are, in the opinion of the insolvency manager, capable of giving
information which the insolvency manager requires; and
(d) those
who are, or have within that year been, partners in or in the employment of
another partnership with separate legal personality which is or was a partner
in the limited liability partnership in question or officers of, or in the
employment of, any person who is or was a partner in the limited liability
partnership in question.
(3) For the purposes of
paragraph (2), “employment” includes employment under a
contract for services (contrat de louage
d’ouvrage).
(4) A person who fails to
comply with paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence.
41 Insolvency manager to report criminal offences[1]
(1) If it appears to the
insolvency manager that any person has been guilty of an act or omission in
relation to the limited liability partnership for which that person is
criminally liable, the insolvency manager shall –
(a) forthwith
report the matter to the Attorney General; and
(b) furnish
the Attorney General with information and give the Attorney General access to,
and facilities for inspecting and taking copies of, documents (being
information or documents in the possession of or under the control of the
insolvency manager and relating to the matter in question) as the Attorney
General requires.
(2) Where a report is made
to the Attorney General under paragraph (1), the Attorney General may
refer the matter to the Minister or the Commission for further enquiry; and the
Minister or the Commission, as the case may be –
(a) shall
thereupon investigate the matter; and
(b) may
also, if they think it necessary for the purposes of their investigation,
investigate the affairs of –
(i) any person
mentioned in Regulation 40(2),
(ii) any
company or partnership of which the limited liability partnership is or was a
member, or
(iii) any
director or employee of such a company, or any employee or partner of such a
partnership,
and shall report upon the affairs of the partner, company, director
or employee so far as they think that the results of their investigation of
that person’s affairs are relevant to the investigation of the affairs of
the limited liability partnership.
(3) The Minister or the
Commission may appoint one or more inspectors to carry out an investigation and
report to him or her for the purposes of paragraph (2).
(4) If it appears to the
Court in the course of an insolvent winding up that any person has been guilty
as mentioned in paragraph (1), and that no report with respect to the
matter has been made by the insolvency manager to the Attorney General under
that paragraph, the Court may (on the application of a person interested in the
insolvent winding up or of its own motion) direct the insolvency manager to
make such a report; and on a report being made accordingly this Regulation
shall have effect as though the report had been made in pursuance of paragraph (1).
42 Obligations
and powers arising under Regulation 41[2]
(1) If the Minister, the
Commission or an inspector appointed by either of them to carry out an
investigation considers that any person is or may be in possession of
information relating to a matter which they believe to be relevant to an
investigation pursuant to Regulation 41(2), the Minister, the Commission
or inspector may require the person –
(a) to
produce and make available to them all records in the person’s custody or
power relating to that matter;
(b) at
reasonable times and on reasonable notice, to attend before them; and
(c) otherwise
to give them all assistance in connection with the investigation which the person
is reasonably able to give,
and it is that person’s duty to comply with the requirement.
(2) The Minister, the
Commission or an inspector appointed by either of them to carry out an
investigation may, for the purposes of the examination, examine on oath any
such person as is mentioned in paragraph (1), and may administer an oath
accordingly.
(3) An answer given by a person
to a question put to the person in exercise of the powers conferred by
paragraph (1) may not be used by the prosecution in evidence against the person
in any criminal proceedings except for the purposes of proceedings under
paragraph (7) or Regulation 44.
(4) This paragraph applies
where the Minister, the Commission or an inspector appointed by either of them
to carry out an investigation has reasonable grounds for believing that any
employee, former employee, partner or former partner in, or director or former
director of, the person whose affairs are being investigated maintains or has
maintained a bank account of any description –
(a) whether
alone or jointly with another person; and
(b) whether
in Jersey or elsewhere,
into or out of which there has been paid money which has been in any
way connected with an act or omission, or series of acts or omissions, which
constitutes misconduct (whether fraudulent or not) on the part of that
employee, former employee, partner, former partner, director or former
director, towards the person or its remaining partners or its members, as the
case may be.
(5) In a case where
paragraph (4) applies, the Minister, the Commission or the inspector may
require the employee, former employee, partner, former partner, director or
former director, as the case may be, or any of them, to produce and make
available to the Minister, the Commission or inspector, as the case may be, all
records in the possession or control of the employee, former employee partner,
former partner, director or former director, as the case may, be relating to
that bank account.
(6) Where criminal
proceedings are instituted by the Attorney General following a report or
reference under Regulation 41 the insolvency manager and every partner,
agent and employee of the limited liability partnership past and present (other
than the defendant) shall give the Attorney General any assistance in connection
with the prosecution which they are reasonably able to give; and for this
purpose “agent” includes a banker, advocate or solicitor of the
limited liability partnership and a person employed by the limited liability
partnership as auditor.
(7) If a person fails or
neglects to give assistance as required by paragraph (6), the Court may,
on the application of the Attorney General, direct the person to comply with
that paragraph; and if the application is made with respect to an insolvency
manager, the Court may (unless it appears that the failure or neglect to comply
was due to the insolvency manager not having in his or her hands sufficient
assets of the limited liability partnership to enable him or her to do so)
direct that the costs shall be borne by the insolvency manager personally.
(8) A person who knowingly
or recklessly makes to the Minister, the Commission or an inspector appointed
by either of them any statement, whether written or oral, which conveys, or
purports to convey, any information or explanation which the Minister, the
Commission or inspector requires, or is entitled to require, in the course of
an investigation and is misleading, false or deceptive in a material
particular, shall be guilty of an offence.
43 Authority
for search
(1) An inspector appointed
under Regulation 41(3) may for the purpose of the investigation apply to
the Bailiff for a warrant under this Regulation in relation to specified
premises.
(2) If the Bailiff is
satisfied that the conditions in paragraph (3) are fulfilled the Bailiff
may issue a warrant authorizing a police officer and any other person named in
the warrant to enter the specified premises (using such force as is reasonably
necessary for the purpose) and to search them.
(3) The conditions referred
to in paragraph (2) are –
(a) that
there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is on the premises
material (whether or not it can be particularised) which is likely to be of
substantial value (whether by itself or together with other material) to the
investigation for the purpose of which the application is made; and
(b) that
the investigation for the purposes of which the application is made might be
seriously prejudiced unless immediate entry can be secured to the premises.
(4) Where a person has
entered premises in the execution of a warrant issued under this Regulation, the
person may seize and retain any material, other than items subject to legal
professional privilege, which is likely to be of substantial value (whether by
itself or together with other material) to the investigation for the purpose of
which the warrant was issued.
(5) In this Regulation,
“premises” includes any place and, in particular,
includes –
(a) any
vehicle, vessel, aircraft or hovercraft;
(b) any
offshore installation; and
(c) any
tent or movable structure.
(6) Any person who wilfully
obstructs any person acting in the execution of a warrant issued under this
Regulation shall be guilty of an offence.
44 Failure
to co-operate with Minister, Commission or inspector[3]
(1) If any person –
(a) fails
to comply with a requirement under Regulation 42; or
(b) refuses
to answer any question put to the person by the inspectors for the purpose of
the investigation,
the Minister, the Commission or the inspector may certify the
refusal in writing to the Court.
(2) The Court may thereupon
inquire into the case and, after hearing any witness who may be produced
against or on behalf of the alleged offender and any statement in defence, the
Court may punish the offender as if the offender had been guilty of contempt of
the Court.
45 Inspector’s
report to be evidence[4]
(1) A copy of a report of
an inspector is admissible in legal proceedings as evidence of the opinion of
the inspector in relation to a matter contained in the report if the copy has
been certified to be a true copy by whichever of the Minister or the Commission
appointed the inspector.
(2) A document purporting
to be a certificate mentioned in paragraph (1) shall be received in
evidence and be deemed to be such a certificate unless the contrary is proved.
46 Privileged
information[5]
Nothing in this Part requires
the disclosure or production to the Minister or the Commission or to an
inspector appointed by either of them –
(a) by a person of
information or records which the person would in an action in the Court be
entitled to refuse to disclose or produce on the grounds of legal professional
privilege in proceedings in the Court except, if the person is a lawyer, the
name and address of the person’s client;
(b) by a limited liability
partnership’s bankers (as such) of information or records relating to the
affairs of any of their customers other than the limited liability partnership
or other person under investigation.
47 Enforcement
of duty of partner or insolvency manager to deliver document or give notice
(1) If, in an insolvent
winding up, a partner or the insolvency manager who has defaulted in delivering
a document or in giving any notice which the partner or insolvency manager is
by law required to deliver or give, fails to make good the default within
14 days after the service on the partner or insolvency manager of a notice
requiring the partner or insolvency manager to do so, the Court may, on an
application made by a creditor or a partner, or by the registrar, make an order
directing the partner or the insolvency manager to make good the default within
the time specified in the order.
(2) The Court’s order
may provide that costs of and incidental to the application shall be borne, in
whole or in part, by the partner or the insolvency manager personally.
(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)
prejudices the operation of any enactment imposing penalties on a partner or an
insolvency manager in respect of a default mentioned therein.
48 Qualifications of
insolvency manager
(1) A person who is not an
individual is not qualified to act as an insolvency manager.
(2) A person is not
qualified to be appointed as an insolvency manager unless the person is a
member of –
(a) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales;
(b) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland;
(c) the
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants; or
(d) the
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
(3) None of the following
persons is so qualified –
(a) a
partner, former partner, officer, former officer, employee or former employee
of the limited liability partnership;
(b) any
partner in a partnership with separate legal personality which is itself a
partner in the limited liability partnership;
(c) a
secretary or former secretary of the limited liability partnership;
(d) any
officer, former officer, employee or former employee of a company which is a
partner in the limited liability partnership; or
(e) where
a partner in the limited liability partnership is also a partner in another
partnership, any partner in that partnership.
(4) Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), the Viscount, by virtue of the Viscount’s office, is
a person qualified for appointment as an insolvency manager.
49 Corrupt
inducement affecting appointment as insolvency manager
A person who gives or agrees or offers to give a partner in or
creditor of an insolvent limited liability partnership any valuable benefit
with a view to securing the person’s own appointment or nomination, or to
securing or preventing the appointment or nomination of some person other than himself
or herself, as the insolvency manager, shall be guilty of an offence.
50 Notification
by insolvency manager of resignation, removal or vacation.
(1) An insolvency manager
who resigns, is removed or for any other reason vacates office shall, within
14 days after the resignation, removal or vacation of office, give notice thereof,
signed by the insolvency manager, to the registrar and to the creditors.
(2) An insolvency manager
who fails to comply with paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence.
51 Notification
of winding up of insolvent limited liability partnership
(1) When an insolvent
limited liability partnership is being wound up, every invoice, order for goods
or services or business letter issued by or on behalf of the limited liability
partnership or the insolvency manager, being a document on or in which the name
of the limited liability partnership appears, shall contain a statement that
the limited liability partnership is subject to an insolvent winding up.
(2) An insolvency manager
of an insolvent limited liability partnership who fails to comply with
paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence.
52 Bar
against other proceedings in bankruptcy
The winding up of an insolvent limited liability partnership under
this Part bars the right to take any other proceedings in bankruptcy against
the limited liability partnership except the right of a creditor to apply for a
declaration under the Bankruptcy (Désastre) (Jersey)
Law 1990.
Part 5
MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
53 Restriction
on disposal of records
(1) The
records of a limited liability partnership which has been wound up under Part 3
or Part 4 shall be kept in Jersey by the, dissolution manager, insolvency
manager or any other person to whom the records have been committed, as the
case may be, and shall not be destroyed until after 10 years from the date
of the cancellation of registration of the limited liability partnership.
(2) Subject
to paragraph (1), when an insolvent limited liability partnership has been
wound up under Part 4, and registration is about to be cancelled, its records
and those of the insolvency manager must be retained in the way that the
insolvency committee or, if there is no such committee, the creditors of the
limited liability partnership may direct.
(3) After
10 years from the cancellation of registration of the limited liability
partnership, no responsibility rests on the limited liability partnership, the
insolvency manager or a person to whom the custody of the records has been
committed, by reason of any record not being forthcoming to a person claiming to
be interested in it.
(4) A
person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence.
54 Recognition
of proceedings in other jurisdictions
(1) This Regulation applies
where an order is made by a court outside Jersey for the dissolution or winding
up of the affairs of a limited liability partnership, and references in this Regulation
to an order shall be construed accordingly.
(2) For the purposes of these
Regulations, a limited liability partnership shall not be taken to be dissolved
by an order until that order has been recognized by the Court, but, once an
order has been recognized by the Court, it shall be taken to be an order for
the dissolution and winding up of the affairs of the limited liability
partnership.
(3) An application to the
Court for recognition of an order may be made by the person appointed under it
to wind up the affairs of the limited liability partnership or, if none, the
person on whose application the order was made.
(4) In determining whether
or not to recognize an order the Court shall have regard to whether the grounds
on which it is made would constitute grounds for dissolution in Jersey.
(5) Where the Court decides
to recognize an order, it may also appoint a person to be responsible for
winding up the affairs of the limited liability partnership and give such
directions as it thinks fit as to the winding up.
(6) Where the Court decides
to recognize an order in respect of a limited liability partnership, the insolvency
manager or person appointed under paragraph (5) shall deliver a copy of
the decision of the Court to the registrar within 28 days after it is
made.
(7) Upon receiving a copy
of the order of court referred to in paragraph (6), the registrar shall
register it and issue a certificate to that effect.
(8) An insolvency manager
or other person appointed under paragraph (5) that fails to comply with
paragraph (6) shall be guilty of an offence.
55 Penalties
(1) The penalty for an
offence committed under Regulation 5(3), 5(5), 6(4), 7(3), 9(8), 12(2),
14(8), 17(8), 21(4), 25(5), 26(4) 27(4), 29(5), 53(4) or 54(8) shall be
liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(2) The penalty for an
offence under Regulation 15(6), 50(2) or 51(2) shall be a fine.
(3) The penalty for an
offence under Regulation 15(7) or 40(4) shall be 6 months
imprisonment and a fine.
(4) The penalty for an
offence under Regulation 42(8), 43(6) or 49 shall be 2 years
imprisonment and a fine.
56 Citation
These Regulations may be
cited as the Limited Liability Partnerships (Dissolution and Winding Up)
(Jersey) Regulations 2018.