Renault SAS v Liberty Engineering Group Pte. Ltd.

Case Significance

Renault SAS v Liberty Engineering Group Pte Ltd and another matter [2024] SGHC(I) 22 was a grounds of decision of the Singapore International Commercial Court delivered by Roger Giles IJ on 15 July 2024, in Originating Application No 9 of 2023 (Summons No 18 of 2024) and Originating Application No 7 of 2024, heard on 19 June 2024. In a claim under a guarantee, Renault SAS ("Renault") had obtained judgment against Liberty Engineering Group Pte Ltd ("LEG") for EUR 5,250,025.61 and interest. LEG appealed against the decision and applied, in separate applications, for a stay of enforcement of the judgment and for an injunction restraining Renault from presenting a winding-up application against it founded on the judgment, both until the disposal of the appeal.

The applications were heard together, with decisions announced at the conclusion of the hearing and full reasons to follow. Roger Giles IJ indicated that a stay order would be made on condition of payment into court of the judgment sum and interest to 31 July 2024, and that, if it remained a live issue, a restraining order would be made. The restraining order was announced on the indication that, despite the judgment, Renault's claim remained a bona fide disputed debt and a winding-up application founded on it would be an abuse of process. Renault was represented by Wong Partnership LLP and LEG by Ascendant Legal LLC.