Stephen Hathway: application to transition to liquidator of Plaza West a test of patience.
When a deed administrator has no more hair to tear then he or she must assess the options – assuming there are any – and act.
In the case of still hirsute Helm Advisory principal Stephen Hathway, that has meant embarking on an arduous path through the courts in search of an order that will, if obtained, see his role as administrator of the Plaza West Pty Ltd deed of company arrangement (DoCA) transition to that of liquidator.
Being so appointed would represent a return by the company to its original state of insolvency, which commenced in July 2012 when John Kukulovski and Rod Sutherland – both now ex-Jirsch Sutherland – were appointed liquidators of Plaza West via a resolution of creditors.
Hathway became deed administrator after his predecessor Guy Baxendale succumbed – temporarily – to a ventricular infection in early 2013.
The company – a development vehicle controlled by the Dyldam construction group – owed the Australian Tax Office (ATO) $5 million at the time but the DoCA proposed in December 2012 received the blessing of Australia’s most promiscuous creditor, despite the diminished return the deed guaranteed.
The grudging goodwill however evaporated after the books and records were scrutinised. What was unusual was that it was an examination of the books and records not of Plaza West but of its accounting firm that compelled the ATO to act.
Suddenly, Hathway’s recommendation that a court-appointed liquidator was required found a more receptive ear. The tax personage offered funding. Proceedings to effect his transition were commenced in June, 2016. And of course are ongoing.
In the NSW Supreme Court yesterday, Justice Ashley Black heard that Plaza West’s director Maria Fayad is allegedly in breach of the DoCA and needed more time to put on evidence as she is currently “agitating” a series of objections to income assessments issued by the ATO.
Her counsel Farid Assif said the agitation was not likely to be concluded before May, which seems a not unreasonable span even with the assistance of PwC, which he told the court had been engaged to negotiate a deal on Fayad’s behalf.
Maria Fayad is the wife of Sam Fayad, one of the founders of Dyldam. If Hathway succeeds the ATO will – barring a settlement – continue to tip in funds to ensure public examinations are conducted, with the director and related parties sure to be summoned. But the assessment objections are standing in the way.
How will they be resolved? Prosecuting her objections with the ATO could potentially delay Ms Fayad’s preparations for Hathway’s yet to be scheduled hearing.
Yet it’s already clear the lady would prefer Hathway remains as deed administrator given he doesn’t control the numbers. And all the while interest accumulates on the ATO’s debts.
Does anyone know if this ATO case study is related to the above article?
Case study 2: $10 million in phoenix debts and penalties recovered – the story of Mr X.
We recently investigated Mr X, a wealthy property developer involved in multiple projects across Sydney. Mr X had a history of deliberately liquidating companies and leaving substantial debts for unpaid tax and super obligations. The debts of the liquidated companies totalled more than $10 million.
This behaviour attracted our attention and as a result we initiated an in-depth examination of the tax affairs of the group. In the course of auditing the liquidated entities we were able to track the funds from the sale of properties. It became apparent that through a series of related party transactions and false loans, associates/relatives of the property developer were the ultimate recipients of the proceeds from the sale.
As a result of being able to trace the true flow of the funds, we were able to issue assessments to recover the outstanding tax debts and ensure that they were paid. In addition the taxpayer was subject to increased penalties and interest”.