C1C2C3C23C21C4C22C5C15C24 Part IV Winding Up of Companies Registered under the Companies Acts
Pt. 4 (ss. 73-219) extended (with modifications) by Building Societies Act 1986 (1986 c. 53), ss. 54(3)(a)(5)(a), 90, 126(3), Sch. 15 (as amended (13.3.2018) by S.I. 2018/208, regs. 1(3), 2(2))
Pts. I-VII (ss. 1-251) applied (with modifications) by S.I. 1989/1276, arts. 2, 3
Pt. IV (ss. 73-219) applied (with modifications) (1.2.1993) by Friendly Societies Act 1992 (c. 40), ss. 21(1), 22, 23, Sch. 10 para. 1(a) (with ss. 7(5), 93(4)); S.I. 1993/16, art. 2, Sch. 3
Pt. IV applied (with modifications) (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 8(4)(5)(8)(9) (as amended (1.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/1516, art. 4)
Pt. IV applied (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 10(2)(3)(6), Sch. 4 Pt. II, Sch. 7 (as amended (1.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/1516, art. 5)
Pt. 4 applied (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 10(2)(3)(6), Sch. 4 Pt. II, Sch. 7 (as amended (1.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/1516, art. 5 and (1.1.2015) by S.I. 2014/3486, arts. 1(2), 14 (with art. 3))
Pts. 1-4, 6, 7 applied to limited liability partnerships (with modifications) (E.W.S.) (6.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1090, reg. 5, Schs. 3, 4 (as amended (4.3.2004) by S.I. 2004/355, art. 10 and (1.10.2005) by S.I. 2005/1989, reg. 3, Sch. 2 (with reg. 4))
Pt. IV: power to apply or incorporate conferred (6.4.2001) by 2000 c. 12, s. 14(1); S.I. 2000/3316, art. 2
Pt. IV: power to apply (with modifications) conferred (20.11.2003) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), ss. 25(6), 26
Pt. 4: power to apply (with modifications) conferred (E.W.) (1.3.2007) by National Health Service Act 2006 (c. 41), ss. 54(8), 55, 277
First Group of Parts (Pts. 1-7) applied (with modifications) (15.12.2006) by The Banks (Former Authorised Institutions) (Insolvency) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3107), art. 3, Sch. (as amended (1.4.2013) by S.I. 2013/472, art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 117; and (13.3.2018) by S.I. 2018/208, regs. 1(3), 11
Pt. IV amended (1.12.2001) by 2000 c. 8, s. 371(2)(b); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)
Pt. IV (except s. 185) modified (S.) (prosp.) by Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 3), ss. 45(5), 227(3) (subject to s. 45(1) and with ss. 45(6), 223)
Pts. I-IV applied (with modifications) in part (2.1.2013) by The Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3013), reg. 1, Sch. paras. 1(2)(a)(3)-(7)
Chapter VII Liquidators
Liquidator’s powers and duties
C6165 Voluntary winding up.
1
This section has effect where a company is being wound up voluntarily, but subject to section 166 below in the case of a creditor’s voluntary winding up.
F112
The liquidator may exercise any of the powers specified in Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4.
C74
The liquidator may—
a
exercise the court’s power of settling a list of contributories (which list is prima facie evidence of the liability of the persons named in it to be contributories),
b
exercise the court’s power of making calls,
c
summon general meetings of the company for the purpose of obtaining its sanction by F5special resolution or for any other purpose he may think fit.
5
The liquidator shall pay the company’s debts and adjust the rights of the contributories among themselves.
6
Where the liquidator in exercise of the powers conferred on him by this Act disposes of any property of the company to a person who is connected with the company (within the meaning of section 249 in Part VII), he shall, if there is for the time being a liquidation committee, give notice to the committee of that exercise of his powers.
C8166 Creditors’ voluntary winding up.
1
This section applies where, in the case of a creditors’ voluntary winding up, a liquidator has been nominated by the company.
F31A
The exercise by the liquidator of the power specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 4 to this Act (power to sell any of the company's property) shall not be challengeable on the ground of any prior inhibition.
2
The powers conferred on the liquidator by section 165 shall not be exercised, except with the sanction of the court, F13during the period before the holding of the creditors’ meeting under section 98 in Chapter IV.F13before—
a
the company's creditors under section 100 nominate a person to be liquidator, or
b
the procedure by which the company's creditors were to have made such a nomination concludes without a nomination having been made.
3
Subsection (2) does not apply in relation to the power of the liquidator—
a
to take into his custody or under his control all the property to which the company is or appears to be entitled;
b
to dispose of perishable goods and other goods the value of which is likely to diminish if they are not immediately disposed of; and
c
to do all such other things as may be necessary for the protection of the company’s assets.
4
F10The liquidator shall attend the creditors’ meeting held under section 98 and shall report to the meeting on any exercise by him of his powers (whether or not under this section or under section 112 or 165).
C95
F9If default is made—
a
by the company in complying with subsection (1) F4, (1A) or (2) of section 98, or
b
by the directors in complying with subsection (1)
F6, (2) or (2A) of section 99,
the liquidator shall, within 7 days of the relevant day, apply to the court for directions as to the manner in which that default is to be remedied.
F9If the directors fail to comply with—
a
section 99(1), (2) or (2A), or
b
section 100(1B),
6
“The relevant day” means the day on which the liquidator was nominated by the company or the day on which he first became aware of the default, whichever is the later.
7
If the liquidator without reasonable excuse fails to comply with this section, he is liable to a fine.
C10C16C29167 Winding up by the court.
F121
Where a company is being wound up by the court, the liquidator may exercise any of the powers specified in Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4.
2
Where the liquidator (not being the official receiver), in exercise of the powers conferred on him by this Act—
a
disposes of any property of the company to a person who is connected with the company (within the meaning of section 249 in Part VII) or
b
employs a solicitor to assist him in the carrying out of his functions,
he shall, if there is for the time being a liquidation committee, give notice to the committee of that exercise of his powers.
3
The exercise by the liquidator in a winding up by the court of the powers conferred by this section is subject to the control of the court, and any creditor or contributory may apply to the court with respect to any exercise or proposed exercise of any of those powers.
C18C27168 Supplementary powers (England and Wales).
C111
This section applies in the case of a company which is being wound up by the court in England and Wales.
C11C14F72
The liquidator may summon general metings of the creditors or contributories for the purpose of ascertaining their wishes; and it is his duty to summon meetings at such
times as the creditors or contributories by resolution (either at the meeting appointing the liquidator or otherwise) may direct, or whenever requested in writing to do so by
one-tenth in value of the creditors or contributories (as the case may be).
F72
The liquidator may seek a decision on any matter from the company's creditors or contributories; and must seek a decision on a matter—
a
from the company's creditors, if requested to do so by one-tenth in value of the creditors;
b
from the company's contributories, if requested to do so by one-tenth in value of the contributories.
C113
The liquidator may apply to the court (in the prescribed manner) for directions in relation to any particular matter arising in the winding up.
C194
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the liquidator shall use his own discretion in the management of the assets and their distribution among the creditors.
C115
If any person is aggrieved by an act or decision of the liquidator, that person may apply to the court; and the court may confirm, reverse or modify the act or decision complained of, and make such order in the case as it thinks just.
F15A
Where at any time after a winding-up petition has been presented to the court against any person (including an insolvent partnership or other body which may be wound up under Part V of the Act as an unregistered company), whether by virtue of the provisions of the M1Insolvent Partnerships Order 1994 or not, the attention of the court is drawn to the fact that the person in question is a member of an insolvent partnership, the court may make an order as to the future conduct of the insolvency proceedings and any such order may apply any provisions of that Order with any necessary modifications.
5B
Any order or directions under subsection (5A) may be made or given on the application of the official receiver, any responsible insolvency practitioner, the trustee of the partnership or any other interested person and may include provisions as to the administration of the joint estate of the partnership, and in particular how it and the separate estate of any member are to be administered.
F25C
Where the court makes an order for the winding up of an insolvent partnership under—
a
section 72(1)(a) of the Financial Services Act 1986;
b
section 92(1)(a) of the Banking Act 1987; or
c
section 367(3)(a) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000,
the court may make an order as to the future conduct of the winding up proceedings, and any such order may apply any provisions of the Insolvent Partnerships Order 1994 with any necessary modifications.
C12C17C28169 Supplementary powers (Scotland).
1
F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
In a winding up by the court in Scotland, the liquidator has (subject to the rules) the same powers as a trustee on a bankrupt estate.
C13C20C26170 Enforcement of liquidator’s duty to make returns, etc.
1
If a liquidator who has made any default—
a
in filing, delivering or making any return, account or other document, or
b
in giving any notice which he is by law required to file, deliver, make or give,
fails to make good the default within 14 days after the service on him of a notice requiring him to do so, the court has the following powers.
C252
On an application made by any creditor or contributory of the company, or by the registrar of companies, the court may make an order directing the liquidator to make good the default within such time as may be specified in the order.
3
The court’s order may provide that all costs of and incidental to the application shall be borne by the liquidator.
4
Nothing in this section prejudices the operation of any enactment imposing penalties on a liquidator in respect of any such default as is mentioned above.
Pt. 4 (ss. 73-219) modified by Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (c. 46, SIF 27), ss. 21(2), 25
Pt. 4 modified by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1987 (c. 41, SIF 39:1), ss. 30(6), 35(4), 47(4)(a)
Pt. 4 modified by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), ss. 86(5), 123, Sch. 8 para. 16
Pt. 4 modified (1.2.1993) by Friendly Societies Act 1992 (c. 40), s. 23, Sch. 10 para. 1(a) (with ss. 7(5), 93(4)); S.I. 1993/16, art. 2, Sch.3 (as amended (13.3.2018) by S.I. 2018/208, regs. 1(3), 3)
Pt. 4 modified (E.W.S.) (31.3.1996) by 1995 c. 20, s. 110(1), Sch. 4 para. 3(4); S.I. 1996/517, art. 3(2) (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 4-6, Sch. 2) (which modifying Act was itself repealed (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, ss. 6(1), 7(2), Sch. 5 (with Sch. 3, paras. 3, 16))
Pt. 4 modified (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 43, ss. 44, 50(2), Sch. 2 para. 3(4)
Pt. 4 modified (24.3.2003) by 2002 c. 29, ss. 426(8), 458(1)(3); S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch. (subject to arts. 3-13 (as amended by S.I. 2003/531, arts. 3, 4))