Essay On Parri Passu Principle

1482 Words3 Pages

Prior to the winding-up of an insolvent company, its creditors may individually enforce any measure available to them in order to obtain payment of the debt owed to them by such company. However, upon the opening of the winding-up proceedings these individual actions are replaced by a collective insolvency regime which attempts to ensure the rateable and equitable distribution of the assets of the insolvent company among its creditors. This distribution is known as pari passu distribution. The Essay will focus on the meaning of the Pari Passu principle, the origin and reason of said principle, examining the criticism it faces both positive and negative concluding with if it can truly be said of the pari passu that it is fundamental in corporate insolvency law. Pari passu is a Latin phrase that literally means "with an equal step" or "on equal footing." It is sometimes translated as "ranking equally”, “hand-in-hand," "with equal force," or "moving together,” and by extension, "fairly," "without partiality." Black's Law Dictionary defines pari passu as "proportionally; at an equal pace; without preference. The pari passu principle is derived from the maxim ‘equality is equity’: ‘The maxim that equality is equity expresses in a general way the object both of law and equity, namely to effect a distribution of property and losses proportionate to the several claims or to the several liabilities of the persons concerned. Equality in this connection does not necessarily mean literal equality, but may mean proportionate equality.’ “[T]he pari passu principle providing for equality of division among creditors is said to be one of the (if not the most) fundamental principles of the law of insolvency and is at the very heart of the who... ... middle of paper ... ...ovides for equality in sharing whatever assets are left after all the discounting which although may be little is surely beneficial to those receiving and is surely better than nothing. In conclusion it is clear the pari passu principal in practice is rarely achieved and is quite frankly easy to refer to as a glorified theoretical doctrine as it has been severely eroded. This being said it is impossible to discount the pari passu theory as a fundamental principle in corporate insolvency law as although not overly effective in the capacity it was created, the principle spreads all across insolvency law promoting fairness and efficiency in the distribution of assets in insolvency proceedings from the hierarchy and classes of claims to other rules for proportionality. It is a principle which advocates creditor protection which is a pillar of corporate insolvency law.

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