On 16 December 2021, the Full Court of the Federal Court delivered the judgment in Morton as Liquidator of MJ Woodman Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd v Metal Manufacturers Pty Limited [2021] FCAFC 228, confirming that a creditor of an insolvent company cannot rely on the right of set-off under section 553C of the Corporations Act 2001  (Cth) (Act) in response to an unfair preference claim under section 588FA of the Act.

The case

The defendant, Metal Manufacturers Pty Ltd (Creditor), received payments of $190,000 during the relation back period from MJ Woodman Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd (Company). Before going into liquidation, the Company also obtained goods from the Creditor on credit terms in the amount of $194,727.23.

The Creditor sought to set-off the unfair preference in the amount of $194,727.23 – the amount owed by the Company to the Creditor.

The decision

Justice Derrington reserved the following question for consideration by the Full Court:  

"Is statutory set-off, under s 553C(1) of the Act, available to the defendant in this proceeding against the plaintiff's claim as liquidator for the recovery of an unfair preference under s588FA of the Act?"

The Full Court's answer to this question was no.

The Full Court rejected the Creditor's argument that a liability to repay a preference can be set-off against another debt owed to the same creditor and disagreed that it fell within the scope of section 553C of the Act.

The Full Court deemed that there was a lack of mutuality between the indebtedness of the Company to the Creditor and the liability of the Creditor to pay the Company at the suit of the liquidator.

The Creditor was unable to satisfy the elements of mutuality. More specifically, the lack of mutuality arose from the different interests. That is, the right to seek repayment of the preference is not the right of a company, but instead, it is a right executed by a liquidator in their duty to gather in the assets of a company for the benefit of unsecured creditors.

In addition, the elements of section 553C of the Act were not met as there was no right or equity in the Company at the relevant date and no duty or obligation of the Creditor to repay the preference.

The Court reiterated that section 553C of the Act is based on the equitable principle of equality. The purpose of the unfair preference provisions is to achieve fairness. Accordingly, if the Court was to accept the Creditor's position, the funds disgorged by the Creditor would not be available to distribute equally to other unsecured creditors and to priority creditors.

Alternatively, if the Creditor gave up the preference in full, effectively restoring the Company to the position it would have been if the preference payment did not occur, any dislocation of contribution among the other creditors would be remedied.

Key takeaways

  • A creditor cannot rely on section 553C of the Act as a defence to an unfair preference claim by setting off another debt owed by the company to the creditor.
  • The underlying purpose of statutory set-off is to protect creditors where genuine mutual debts or dealings exist without affecting the pari passu distribution.
  • Under section 588FA of the Act, the obligation to pay will arise from a court order made following a successful application by a liquidator. Consequently, the right to seek repayment of the preference is not the right of the company but a right executed by a liquidator.

This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.