The Companies (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990

Disclaimer of property, rescission of contracts, &c.

87.—(1) Articles 152, 157, 288 and 318 of the Insolvency Order (power to disclaim onerous property and court’s power to order rescission of contracts, &c.) do not apply in relation to—

(a) a market contract, or

(b) a contract effected by the exchange or clearing house for the purpose of realising property provided as margin in relation to market contracts.

(2) Articles 107 and 257 of the Insolvency Order (avoidance of property dispositions effected after commencement of winding up or presentation of bankruptcy petition) do not apply to—

(a) a market contract, or any disposition of property in pursuance of such a contract,

(b) the provision of margin in relation to market contracts,

(c) a contract effected by the exchange or clearing house for the purpose of realising property provided as margin in relation to a market contract, or any disposition of property in pursuance of such a contract, or

(d) any disposition of property in accordance with the rules of the exchange or clearing house as to the application of property provided as margin.

(3) However, where—

(a) a market contract is entered into by a person who has notice that a petition has been presented for the winding up or bankruptcy of the other party to the contract, or

(b) margin in relation to a market contract is accepted by a person who has notice that such a petition has been presented in relation to the person by whom or on whose behalf the margin is provided,

the value of any profit to him arising from the contract or, as the case may be, the amount or value of the margin is recoverable from him by the relevant office-holder unless the court directs otherwise.

(4) Paragraph (3)(a) does not apply where the person entering into the contract is a recognised investment exchange or recognised clearing house acting in accordance with its rules, or where the contract is effected under the default rules of such an exchange or clearing house; but paragraph (3)(b) applies in relation to the provision of margin in relation to such a contract.

(5) Any sum recoverable by virtue of paragraph (3) ranks for priority, in the event of the involvency of the person from whom it is due, immediately before preferential debts.