CONSIDERATIONS ON AN APPLICATION TO EXTEND THE CONVENING PERIOD
37 The relevant legal principles applicable to an application to extend the convening period were largely summarised Mentha No 1 (at [15]-[22]). I will not repeat them in detail.
38 There are recent instances in which the Court has granted a further extension of the convening period, in circumstances similar to the present, involving complex sale processes of substantial assets.
39 In ABC Learning Centres Ltd, Re; Application by Walker (No 7) (2009) 71 ACSR 560, a further extension of the convening period of six months was granted. The further extension was sought to enable the sale of the ABC Group's business by the receivers and managers of the companies. The reasons for the application for the further extension included to provide the receivers with sufficient time to prepare for the sale, including to consider the appointment of investment banks to advise on the sale process, to prepare an information memorandum to provide to prospective buyers, to advertise the business for sale and to assemble information necessary to facilitate due diligence investigations on behalf of prospective buyers (at [11]).
40 In ABC Learning Centres Ltd, Re; Application by Walker (No 8) (2009) 73 ACSR 478, a yet further extension of the convening period of another six months was granted. The application was opposed by two of the companies' lessors. The basis of the application for the further extension of time was that the receivers were still endeavouring to sell the undertaking and business of the ABC Group (at [20]). In support of the application, the receivers submitted that the orderly sale was the only practical means of preserving the business of the ABC Group and maximising the chances of the business continuing in existence under new operators. It was also submitted by the receivers that such a sale would maximise the return to creditors (at [25]). Justice Emmett concluded that it would be appropriate to extend the convening period for a further six months, although noted certain terms might be agreed to for the protection of the companies' lessors (at [63]).
41 In applications made by the administrators of Windimurra Vanadium Ltd and Midwest Vanadium Pty Ltd in the context of the sale process for a vanadium mine under construction, a series of four separate extensions were granted, being for 3 months, 3 months, 2 months and then 2 months respectively: Windimurra Vanadium Ltd & Midwest Vanadium Pty Ltd, Re; Ex parte Weaver [2009] WASC 71; Windimurra Vanadium Ltd, Re; Ex parte Weaver (No 2) [2009] WASC 182; Windimurra Vanadium Ltd, Re; Ex parte Weaver (No 3) [2009] WASC 302 and Windimurra Vanadium Ltd, Re; Ex parte Weaver (No 4) [2009] WASC 373.
42 For the reasons relied upon by the plaintiffs in support of this application for a further extension and as set out above, (particularly at [8] to [34]), the extension sought is appropriate, as is the reservation of liberty to apply.
43 I will order as follows:
1. The convening period for the meetings of creditors of each of The Griffin Coal Mining Company Pty Ltd (administrators appointed), Griffin Energy Group Pty Ltd (administrators appointed), Carpenter Mine Management Pty Ltd (administrators appointed), W.R. Carpenter Holdings Pty Ltd (administrators appointed), Carpenter Mine Management Holdings Pty Ltd (administrators appointed) and W.R. Carpenter Australia Pty Ltd (administrators appointed) (Companies and each a Company) required to be held pursuant to section 439A of the Corporations Act be extended to midnight on 28 September 2010.
2. Pursuant to section 447A(1) of the Corporations Act, that, with respect to each Company, Part 5.3A of the Corporations Act is to operate as if:
a. section 439A(1) also provided that the meeting of creditors required by that section may be convened and held within the convening period (including within the convening period as extended pursuant to subsection 439A(6));
b. section 439A(2) of the Corporations Act provided that the meeting must be held within five business days from being convened in accordance with subsections 439A(3) and (4), being a date not necessarily within five business days from the end of the convening period (including the convening period as extended pursuant to subsection 439A(6)); and
c. section 439A of the Corporations Act operated generally to permit the convening and holding of the meeting of creditors of the Company during the convening period (including the convening period as extended pursuant to section 439A(6)) provided the requirements of subsection 439A(3) and (4) are complied with.
3. The exhibit marked "Confidential Exhibit BKM-4" be kept confidential on the Court file and not be made available for inspection by any person (other than the First Plaintiffs and Second Plaintiffs) without an order of a judge of this Court.
4. The First Plaintiffs' and Second Plaintiffs' costs of this proceeding be paid pro rata as a cost of the administration of each Company.
5. The First Plaintiffs and Second Plaintiffs have liberty to apply to the Court for any further extensions of the convening periods referred to in Order 1 at any time prior to 28 September 2010.
6. Any person, including any creditor of any of the Companies, or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, who can demonstrate sufficient interest to make such application as he, she, or it may be advised, have liberty to apply to the Court to vary or discharge these Orders on 48 hours notice being given to the First Plaintiffs and Second Plaintiffs and to the Court.
7. The First Plaintiffs and Second Plaintiffs cause notice of these Orders, within two business days after the making of these Orders:
a. to be placed on the website maintained by the First Plaintiffs and the Second Plaintiffs at www.kordamentha.com and on the website maintained by the Companies at www.griffincoal.com.au; and
b. to be sent by email to all creditors of the Companies who have provided the First Plaintiffs and the Second Plaintiffs with an email address, and to all other creditors of the Companies who have provided the First Plaintiffs and Second Plaintiffs with a mailing address, by mail.
c. These orders be entered forthwith.
d. The Court reserves for further consideration any application to further extend the convening period for the meeting of creditors required to be held pursuant to s 439A of the Corporations Act with respect to each Company.
I certify that the preceding forty-three (43) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice McKerracher.