Normal
Redgum gave a link to the ASI Vs Brisconnections judgement. I found these paragraphs interesting. They seem to be in conflict with earlier correspondence sent by brisconnections to unit holders.http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2009/128.html"224 Turning to the facts of this case, is there a present obligation onASI to pay an instalment which may become payable on the happening ofsome future event? The obligation to pay an instalment is only imposedon those unit holders identified as being registered on 29 April 2009.No obligation arises out of being a unit holder as such. The obligationonly arises if the person is a unit holder on a certain day. Being aunit holder does not by itself give rise to any contingent liability topay any instalment. The liability is not sourced from the fact that somemonths earlier before the instalment date the person held units. Theliability is solely sourced from the person being a unit holder on theinstalment day.234 As to the suggestion that ASI has engaged in some sort of improperscheme by having units transferred to it by a deed of gift, I do notaccept that submission. I see nothing improper in a unit holdertransferring its units as alleged. The project imposes liability onpersons who are unit holders on a certain date. On the basis of thesubmissions before me, I find there is no impropriety per se involved ina person taking steps to ensure that he, she or it is not a unit holderon the instalment date. It appears that a great many unit holdersdisposed of their units in October and November of 2008. It may havebeen the case that they did so to avoid the payment of the instalments.In any event, it is not necessary for me to make any findings aboutthose matters.238 I do not accept the suggestion that the transactions and the putoption are analogous to s 172 of the Property Law Act 1958 (Victoria).BMC invokes the common law principles that underlie s 172 of theProperty Law Act 1958. BMC alleges that ASI is seeking to divest itselfof potential liabilities to avoid meeting them and by a means thatensures that the liabilities will not be met. I do not see anyunconscionable or impropriety in such conduct. If it is the case, as itis suggested, that the units will not be valued in the market for anamount equal to or more than the second instalment on and after 29 April2009 when the second instalment will be paid by the unit holders or theunderwriters, then it is in the commercial interest of a current unitholder to avoid by legal means, if it can, becoming liable to pay theinstalment.239 The BrisConnections Project relies on many parties making rationalcommercial decisions in their own interests to make a profit. It doesnot rely on any person undertaking any publicly spirited actions ofcharity. The project is a commercial venture. It may not be in thecommercial interests of current unit holders to remain unit holders on29 April 2009, I do not see anything improper in unit holders takinglegal steps to ensure they are not registered unit holders on 29 April2009.240 BMC relies on principles of equity, which themselves rely onunconscionability. Why is it unconscionable for a unit holder, whoseinvestment in the project is currently valueless, takings steps to avoidwasting more money on the project, if that be the case? Perhaps it mightbe said that others have relied on the current unit holder paying theinstalments and have altered their position to their advantage on suchreliance. None of the existing unit holders have represented, however,that they will remain unit holders on 29 April 2009 or that they willensure the second payment is made. The other contracting parties in theBrisConnections Project took the risk that the project may not besuccessful, if that be the case, and that existing unit holders may seekto cease being unit holders on 29 April 2009. The evidence establishesthat institutions who held substantial numbers of units in the unittrusts disposed of these units some time ago and that the current unitholders include many who were not aware of the liability attached to theunits when they acquired them. On the limited submissions that weremade, I do not find any matter in s 172 of the Property Law Act 1958that is relevant to the just and equitable claim."
Redgum gave a link to the ASI Vs Brisconnections judgement. I found these paragraphs interesting. They seem to be in conflict with earlier correspondence sent by brisconnections to unit holders.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2009/128.html
"224 Turning to the facts of this case, is there a present obligation on
ASI to pay an instalment which may become payable on the happening of
some future event? The obligation to pay an instalment is only imposed
on those unit holders identified as being registered on 29 April 2009.
No obligation arises out of being a unit holder as such. The obligation
only arises if the person is a unit holder on a certain day. Being a
unit holder does not by itself give rise to any contingent liability to
pay any instalment. The liability is not sourced from the fact that some
months earlier before the instalment date the person held units. The
liability is solely sourced from the person being a unit holder on the
instalment day.
234 As to the suggestion that ASI has engaged in some sort of improper
scheme by having units transferred to it by a deed of gift, I do not
accept that submission. I see nothing improper in a unit holder
transferring its units as alleged. The project imposes liability on
persons who are unit holders on a certain date. On the basis of the
submissions before me, I find there is no impropriety per se involved in
a person taking steps to ensure that he, she or it is not a unit holder
on the instalment date. It appears that a great many unit holders
disposed of their units in October and November of 2008. It may have
been the case that they did so to avoid the payment of the instalments.
In any event, it is not necessary for me to make any findings about
those matters.
238 I do not accept the suggestion that the transactions and the put
option are analogous to s 172 of the Property Law Act 1958 (Victoria).
BMC invokes the common law principles that underlie s 172 of the
Property Law Act 1958. BMC alleges that ASI is seeking to divest itself
of potential liabilities to avoid meeting them and by a means that
ensures that the liabilities will not be met. I do not see any
unconscionable or impropriety in such conduct. If it is the case, as it
is suggested, that the units will not be valued in the market for an
amount equal to or more than the second instalment on and after 29 April
2009 when the second instalment will be paid by the unit holders or the
underwriters, then it is in the commercial interest of a current unit
holder to avoid by legal means, if it can, becoming liable to pay the
instalment.
239 The BrisConnections Project relies on many parties making rational
commercial decisions in their own interests to make a profit. It does
not rely on any person undertaking any publicly spirited actions of
charity. The project is a commercial venture. It may not be in the
commercial interests of current unit holders to remain unit holders on
29 April 2009, I do not see anything improper in unit holders taking
legal steps to ensure they are not registered unit holders on 29 April
2009.
240 BMC relies on principles of equity, which themselves rely on
unconscionability. Why is it unconscionable for a unit holder, whose
investment in the project is currently valueless, takings steps to avoid
wasting more money on the project, if that be the case? Perhaps it might
be said that others have relied on the current unit holder paying the
instalments and have altered their position to their advantage on such
reliance. None of the existing unit holders have represented, however,
that they will remain unit holders on 29 April 2009 or that they will
ensure the second payment is made. The other contracting parties in the
BrisConnections Project took the risk that the project may not be
successful, if that be the case, and that existing unit holders may seek
to cease being unit holders on 29 April 2009. The evidence establishes
that institutions who held substantial numbers of units in the unit
trusts disposed of these units some time ago and that the current unit
holders include many who were not aware of the liability attached to the
units when they acquired them. On the limited submissions that were
made, I do not find any matter in s 172 of the Property Law Act 1958
that is relevant to the just and equitable claim."
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