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Development of a Uniform Insolvency Law in SADC: Lessons from OHADA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2013

Abstract

This article argues that, with the global or cross-border nature of many corporate activities, there is an increasing need for a uniform insolvency law approach to the financial distress of a corporation in the Southern African Development Community. In doing so, the article highlights lessons the community may learn from the Insolvency Act of the Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa. Emphasis is given to that organization's success in developing a uniform insolvency act (ie one which is directly applicable in its contracting states). The article also proposes a number of recommendations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © School of Oriental and African Studies 2013 

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References

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61 In South Africa, contracts of employment terminate 45 days after the appointment of the final trustee or liquidator: SAIA, sec 38. The same applies in Namibia (Insolvency Act 61 of 1936, sec 38) and Botswana (Insolvency Act 1929, sec 38).

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63 Convention 173 of 1992.

64 Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, sec 197A(2)(c).

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79 OHADA Treaty, art 53.

80 Above at note 6.

81 Revised OHADA Treaty, art 42.

82 OHADA Treaty, art 3.

83 Id, art 1.

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99 Id, art 255.

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105 This is a public limited company created in 1974 with its registered office in Cameroon. It manufactures whipped cream.

106 It is unfortunate that the OIA does not state the persons responsible for initiating a PSP.

107 See the High Court of Wouri, Douala order 845/PTGI/W/DLA of 17 December 2008 and civil judgment of 27 May 2009.

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113 OIA, arts 35–36.

114 Id, art 52 and French Decree 21 of 1988, art 2.

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116 Judgment 39/2002 of 5 April 2002.

117 This did not enter into force due to one member's failure to ratify it. However, it has been superseded by the current council regulation (EC) 1346/2000 of 29 May 2000 on insolvency proceedings.

118 Council of Europe, 5 June 1990.

119 30 May 1997. Available at: <http://www.uncitral.org/pdf/english/texts/insolven/insolvency-e.pdf> (last accessed 23 April 2013).

120 EN Sayi Harmonisation of Insolvency Law, above at note 11 at 26.

121 Ibid.

122 Model Law, art 2 (c).

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124 Id, arts 3(1) and 27 and OIA, art 251.

125 OIA, arts 21 and 22.

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128 Id, art 249.

129 Id, art 251.

130 The Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) 7 February 2002.

131 See Awusu-Ansah “The OHADA Treaty”, above at note 87 at 7.

132 Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

133 The 11 member states were the majority shareholders with 68.4 % stake in the company; Air France held 12 %, the French Development Agency 9 %, with the other stockholders holding 10.6 %.

134 Awusu-Ansah “The OHADA Treaty”, above at note 87 at 6.

135 See African Development Bank “Multinational company Air-Afrique reinforcement project: Project completion report”, available at: <http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Project-and-Operations/ADB-BD-IF-99-310-EN-MULTINATIONAL-PCR-MULTINATIONAL-COMPANY-AIR-AFRIQUE-REINFORCEMENT-PROJECT.PDF> (last accessed 1 May 2013).

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137 Judgment 04/2004 of 8 January 2004; OIA, art 32.

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151 Id, art 15.

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176 Sarra “Widening the insolvency lens”, above note 59 at 311.

177 Id at 296.

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