Currently, a company charge must be lodged with ASIC within 45 days of being created or registered more than 6 months before an administration, liquidation, or deed of company arrangement of the grantor, whichever is the later, to ensure it is not void. (Section 266(1)(e) Corporations Act ^[1]).

What are the rules for a company charge under PPSA?

Under changes to the Corporations Act which commence on 30 January 2012, when a company grantor is being wound up, an administrator appointed, or a deed of company arrangement executed ("the critical time"), any PPSA security interest which was perfected, registered or enforceable against a third party after the latest of:
a. six months before the critical time; or
b. 20 business days after the security agreement came into force;
c. a later time ordered by the Court under section 588FM;
would vest in the company and be available to creditors (section 588FL).

The Personal Property Securities Act does not generally impose any obligation to register a security interest at all or within a particular period of time. The PPSA also will not require a copy of a charge to be lodged.

Of course if a security interest is not promptly registered the secured party may lose priority against third parties or on the insolvency of the grantor. And a Purchase Money Security Interest must be lodged within 15 business days.

If you are taking a company charge as security it is critical to make sure it is registered on the PPS Register within 20 business days (15 business days if it is a Purchase Money Security Interest).