The 'interim period' is the time between when people at a meeting decide the company should make a deal (called a deed of company arrangement) and when the deal is actually signed. This period ends when either the company and the person in charge of the deal (called the deed administrator) sign it, or when the time to sign it runs out.

During this interim period, if you would normally have to follow the rules in the deal, you need to act as if the deal is already in place. This means you can't do anything that goes against what the deal says, unless a court gives you special permission. You also can't do certain things that another part of the law (Section 239ACU) says you're not allowed to do.

These rules are there to make sure everyone acts fairly while the deal is being finalised, even if it hasn't been signed yet.