Corporations Act 2001

If the following conditions are satisfied in relation to a group of 2 or more companies:

each company in the group is being wound up;

any of the following subparagraphs applies:

each company in the group is a related body corporate of each other company in the group;

apart from this section, the companies in the group are jointly liable for one or more debts or claims;

the companies in the group jointly own or operate particular property that is or was used, or for use, in connection with a business, a scheme, or an undertaking, carried on jointly by the companies in the group;

one or more companies in the group own particular property that is or was used, or for use, by any or all of the companies in the group in connection with a business, a scheme, or an undertaking, carried on jointly by the companies in the group;

determine that the group is a pooled group for the purposes of this section; and

determine a contact address for the group; and

if the liquidator or liquidators consider that it is just and equitable, as between the various creditors of the companies in the group, to do so—determine that any or all of the following provisions:

subsection (2);

subsection (3);

subsection (4);

subsection (5);

subsection (6);

subsection (7);

Section 9 provides that pooling determination means a determination under subsection (1) of this section.

A pooling determination comes into force when it is approved by the eligible unsecured creditors of each of the companies in the group—see section 578.

If a determination under paragraph (1)(c) comes into force in relation to a group of 2 or more companies:

each company in the group is taken to be jointly and severally liable for each debt payable by, and each claim against, each other company in the group; and

each debt payable by a company or companies in the group to any other company or companies in the group is extinguished; and

each claim that a company or companies in the group has against any other company or companies in the group is extinguished.

Subsection (2) applies to a debt or claim:

whether present or future; and

whether certain or contingent; and

whether ascertained or sounding only in damages.

Subsection (2) does not apply to a debt payable by, or a claim against, a company in the group unless the debt or claim is admissible to proof against the company.

If a determination under paragraph (1)(c) comes into force in relation to a group of 2 or more companies, the order of priority applicable under sections 556, 560 and 561 is not altered for a company in the group.

If:

a determination under paragraph (1)(c) comes into force in relation to a group of 2 or more companies; and

a secured creditor of a company in the group surrenders the relevant security interest to the liquidator of the company for the benefit of creditors of the companies in the group generally;

If:

a determination under paragraph (1)(c) comes into force in relation to a group of 2 or more companies; and

a secured creditor of a company in the group realises the security interest;

The following provisions have effect subject to any modifications under paragraph (1)(d):

subsection (2);

subsection (3);

subsection (4);

subsection (5);

subsection (6);

subsection (7).

Subsection (2) does not apply in relation to a secured creditor unless the relevant debt is payable by a company or companies in the group to any other company or companies in the group.

If:

a pooling determination comes into force in relation to a group of 2 or more companies; and

there are one or more eligible employee creditors of a company in the group;

This section does not limit section 477.