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Hong Kong High Court issues bankruptcy order against Brightoil Chairman

Dr Sit Kwong Lam undertook a personal guarantee of over US $30 million in favour of Petrolimex Singapore; however, Brightoil Singapore was unable to repay the debt.
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The following article was published by Singapore bunker publication Manifold Times on 15 April 2330 hrs (Singapore time).

The Court of First Instance, the lower court of the High Court of Hong Kong, on Thursday (11 April) issued a bankruptcy order against Dr Sit Kwong Lam, Chairman of Hong Kong-listed Brightoil Petroleum Holdings, according to a legal document seen by Manifold Times.

Petrolimex Singapore presented a bankruptcy petition at the Hong Kong court against Dr Sit when he could not pay a debt totalling over US $30 million (exact: US $30,253,600) under a personal guarantee with a deadline of 30 August 2018.

“There was no application by the Debtor to set aside the statutory demand.  There is no issue raised as to service,” said the document.

Brightoil Singapore had difficulty paying goods from Petrolimex Singapore under two invoices dated 23 April 2018.

As such, Dr Sit undertook a personal guarantee in favour of Petrolimex Singapore by confirming payment of the two invoices by 10 July 2018.

Brightoil Singapore, however, failed to make payment of the invoices and on 12 July 2018 entered into an arrangement for payment to be broken down into four portions between 10 August 2018 and 9 November 2018.

“Other than the payment of US$100,000 to the Petitioner, Brightoil Singapore has failed to discharge its payment obligations under the Settlement Agreement,” notes the document.

Lawyers representing Dr Sit opposed the bankruptcy petition on three grounds:

  1. the Court should exercise its discretion to stay or dismiss the Petition due to the existence of an arbitration clause;
  2. there is a bona fide dispute of the Debt on substantial grounds;
  3. there is a reasonable prospect of the underlying debt being paid by Brightoil Singapore within a reasonable time.

Peter Ng, Judge of the Court of First Instance, High Court rejected all three grounds.

“There shall be a usual bankruptcy order against the Debtor Mr Sit Kwong Lam and an order nisi that costs of the Petition, including all costs reserved, if any, be to the Petitioner,” he concluded in the judgement.

The full legal judgement can be viewed in its entirety here.

A chronologically organised list of articles concerning Brightoil’s potential debt reorganization is below:

Related: Brightoil aggregate debt has reached approximately $1.9 billion, it updates
Related: Brightoil creditor claims amount to US $250 million, potential debt reorganisation
Related: Brightoil to defend against winding up petition at Hong Kong court
Related: Singapore: Brightoil to apply for six-month moratorium order at High Court
Related: Brightoil oilfield project secures USD $700 million CNOOC funding
Related: Brightoil: Plans to sell Zhoushan oil storage terminal, 15 vessels
Related: Shell to offload crude oil cargo from arrested “Brightoil Lion” tanker
Related: Brightoil VLCC and Aframax tanker arrested at Singapore port
Related: Singapore: Players to get fuel oil cargoes back from Brightoil bunker tankers
Related: Singapore: Petrolimex v Brightoil case progresses to Pre Trial Conference
Related: Singapore: Brightoil bunker creditor list growing with new firms
Related: Singapore: Petrolimex owed over USD $30 million by Brightoil
Related: Brightoil signals return to the shipping sector, starts reorganisation of debt
Related: Singapore: Brightoil bunker tanker fleet placed under Sheriff’s arrest
Related: Singapore: Toyota Tsusho Corporation seeking $21 million from Brightoil
Related: Qatar National Bank seeks USD $21.59 million debt from Brightoil

Published: 15 April, 2019
 

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Sanctions

US reinstates Iran oil sanctions, orders wind-down by 17 July

US has revoked a licence permitting the purchase of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products and petroleum products, with the restrictions taking effect immediately.
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17 hours ago

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July 8, 2026

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The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Tuesday (7 July) revoked a licence that had temporarily authorised transactions involving crude oil, petrochemical products and petroleum products of Iranian origin.

Under the new licence, the purchase of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products and petroleum products is prohibited with immediate effect.

The latest licence replaces an authorisation issued on 22 June, which had been scheduled to remain in force until 21 August. The previous authorisation permitted the bunkering of vessels engaged in the approved transactions.

Parties that entered into contracts for Iranian oil during the period in which the authorisation was in effect have until 17 July to wind down Iran-related transactions.

 

Photo credit: Zbynek Burival on Unsplash
Published: 8 July, 2026

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Legal

Russian court orders marine fuel supplier Transbunker assets transferred to state

A Moscow court has reportedly ordered the transfer of assets belonging to Russian marine fuel supplier Transbunker to state ownership.
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17 hours ago

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July 8, 2026

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A Moscow court has reportedly ordered the transfer of assets belonging to Russian marine fuel supplier Transbunker to state ownership.

This comes following a lawsuit alleging the company was illegally controlled through offshore corporate structures, according to The Moscow Times. 

The ruling grants the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office’s claims in full and takes immediate effect. Prosecutors argued that Transbunker, one of Russia’s largest marine fuel suppliers, was subject to restrictions on foreign ownership because the companies within the group qualify as strategic enterprises. 

The case targets Transbunker founders Iosif Sandler and Sergei Pugachev, both Cypriot citizens, along with Transbunker Management CEO Yelena Zavyalova. 

Prosecutors alleged the founders concealed control of the group through offshore entities in jurisdictions including Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands, while transferring profits abroad. Authorities claim RUB 19.3 billion (USD 247 million) has been moved out of Russia since 2020.

Founded in 1991, Transbunker has developed a nationwide marine fuel supply network serving Russian ports in the Baltic, Black Sea and Far East. The group owns fuel terminals in Novorossiysk, Vanino, Sakhalin and the Leningrad region, among other assets.

 

Photo credit: Egor Filin on Unsplash
Published: 8 July, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Annual general meetings scheduled for Xihe Holdings subsidiaries

Annual general meetings of companies/creditors will be held electronically from between 21 July to 5 for 11 subsidiaries of Xihe Holdings.

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Published

2 days ago

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July 7, 2026

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Several notices were published on the Government Gazette on Tuesday (26 May) regarding the annual general meetings of the companies and creditors to be held electronically from between 21 July to 5 August for 11 subsidiaries of Xihe Holdings. 

Annual general meetings for Xin Dun Shipping are to be held on 21 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 4pm

Annual general meetings for Xin Ya Shipping are to be held on 24 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Xin Chun Shipping are to be held on 21 July at the following times:

  • For the company: 2pm
  • For the creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Nan Sia Maritime are to be held on 24 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Nan Hai Maritime are to be held on 23 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Xin Shipping are to be held on 4 August at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 3pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Kang Shipping are to be held on 23 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Hua Gang Shipping are to be held on 4 August at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 2pm

Annual general meetings for Hua An Shipping are to be held on 22 July at the following time:

  • For the company and creditors: 4pm

Annual general meetings for Dong Fang Shipping are to be held on 22 July at the following times:

  • For the company: 2pm
  • For the creditors: 3pm

Annual general meeting for Nan Ya Maritime is to be held on 5 August at the following time:

  • For the company: 2pm

The agenda for all the meetings are:

  • To receive an update on the liquidation.
  • To receive an account of the Liquidators’ acts and dealings, and of the conduct of the winding up.

The following are the details of the liquidator: 

Ho May Kee
Liquidator
c/o 8 Marina View
#40-04/05 Asia Square Tower 1
Singapore 018960

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 7 July, 2026

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