Insolvency Act 1986

Moving from administration to dissolution E+W+S

[F1 84 (1) If the administrator of a company thinks that the company has no property which might permit a distribution to its creditors, he shall send a notice to that effect to the registrar of companies.

[F2 (1A) Sub-paragraph (1B) applies where, immediately before the administrator sends the notice, there are EU insolvency proceedings open in respect of the company in one or more other member States.

(1B) The administrator must send to the registrar, with the notice, a statement—

(a) identifying those proceedings,

(b) identifying the member State liquidator appointed in each of those proceedings, and

(c) indicating, in relation to each of those member State liquidators, whether that member State liquidator consents to the company being dissolved.]

(2) The court may on the application of the administrator of a company disapply sub-paragraph (1) in respect of the company.

(3) On receipt of a notice under sub-paragraph (1) [F3 and any statement under sub-paragraph (1B)] the registrar shall register it [F4 or them].

(4) On the registration of a notice in respect of a company under sub-paragraph (1) the appointment of an administrator of the company shall cease to have effect.

(5) If an administrator sends a notice under sub-paragraph (1) he shall as soon as is reasonably practicable—

(a) file a copy of the notice with the court, and

(b) send a copy of the notice to each creditor [F5 , other than an opted-out creditor,] of whose claim and address he is aware.

(6) At the end of the period of three months beginning with the date of registration of a notice in respect of a company under sub-paragraph (1) the company is deemed to be dissolved [F6 (except where sub-paragraph (6A) applies)].

[F7 (6A) This sub-paragraph applies where a statement under sub-paragraph (1B) indicates that a member State liquidator does not consent to the company being dissolved.

(6B) Where sub-paragraph (6A) applies, the company is deemed to be dissolved at the end of the period of three months beginning with the date (if any) recorded in the register as the date on which the registrar was notified that—

(a) all proceedings identified in the statement under sub-paragraph (1B) were closed, or

(b) every member State liquidator appointed in those proceedings consented to the company being dissolved.]

(7) On an application in respect of a company by the administrator or another interested person the court may—

(a) extend the period specified in sub-paragraph (6) [F8 or (6B)],

(b) suspend that period, or

(c) disapply sub-paragraph (6) [F9 or (6B)].

(8) Where an order is made under sub-paragraph (7) in respect of a company the administrator shall as soon as is reasonably practicable notify the registrar of companies.

(9) An administrator commits an offence if he fails without reasonable excuse to comply with sub-paragraph (5).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. B1 inserted (15.9.2003) by 2002 c. 40, ss. 248(2), 279, Sch. 16 (with s. 249(1)-(3)(6)); S.I. 2003/2093, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 (subject to arts. 3-8 (as amended by S.I. 2003/2332, art. 2))

F2 Sch. B1 para. 84(1A)(1B) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency Amendment (EU 2015/848) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/702), reg. 1, Sch. para. 30(2)(a) (with regs. 3, 4)

F3 Words in Sch. B1 para. 84(3) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency Amendment (EU 2015/848) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/702), reg. 1, Sch. para. 30(2)(b)(i) (with regs. 3, 4)

F4 Words in Sch. B1 para. 84(3) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency Amendment (EU 2015/848) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/702), reg. 1, Sch. para. 30(2)(b)(ii) (with regs. 3, 4)

F5 Words in Sch. B1 para. 84(5)(b) inserted (26.5.2015 for specified purposes, 6.4.2017 for E.W. in so far as not already in force, 6.4.2019 for S. in so far as not already in force) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), s. 164(1), Sch. 9 para. 10(33); S.I. 2015/1329, reg. 3(d); S.I. 2016/1020, reg. 4(e) (with reg. 5) (as amended by S.I. 2017/363, reg. 3); S.I. 2019/816, reg. 4(c) (with reg. 5)

F6 Words in Sch. B1 para. 84(6) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency Amendment (EU 2015/848) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/702), reg. 1, Sch. para. 30(3) (with regs. 3, 4)

F7 Sch. B1 para. 84(6A)(6B) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency Amendment (EU 2015/848) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/702), reg. 1, Sch. para. 30(4) (with regs. 3, 4)

F8 Words in Sch. B1 para. 84(7)(a) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency Amendment (EU 2015/848) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/702), reg. 1, Sch. para. 30(5) (with regs. 3, 4)

F9 Words in Sch. B1 para. 84(7)(c) inserted (26.6.2017) by The Insolvency Amendment (EU 2015/848) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/702), reg. 1, Sch. para. 30(5) (with regs. 3, 4)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. B1 specified provisions applied (with modifications) (31.1.2019) by Technical and Further Education Act 2017 (c. 19), s. 47(2), Sch. 3; S.I. 2018/1161, reg. 3(c) (as amended (26.12.2023) by 2023 c. 55, s. 255(2)(c), Sch. 4 para. 210(a) (with s. 247))

C2 Sch. B1 specified provisions applied (with modifications) (31.1.2019) by Technical and Further Education Act 2017 (c. 19), s. 47(2), Sch. 4; S.I. 2018/1161, reg. 3(d) (as amended: (28.6.2022) by 2022 c. 21, ss. 25(4), 36(2); and (26.12.2023) by 2023 c. 55, s. 255(2)(c), Sch. 4 para. 211(a) (with s. 247))

C3 Sch. B1 para. 84 applied (with modifications) (17.2.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 21.2.2009) by Banking Act 2009 (c. 1), ss. 145, 263(1)(2) (with s. 247); S.I. 2009/296, arts. 2, 3, Sch. para. 3 (as amended (13.3.2018) by The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (Consequential Amendments, Savings and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/208), regs. 1(3), 5(6)(a))

C4 Sch. B1 paras. 83-91 modified (5.7.2018) by Housing and Planning Act 2016 (c. 22), s. 216(3), Sch. 5 Pts. 1, 2; S.I. 2018/805, reg. 3(b)

C5 Sch. B1 para. 84(5) modified (E.W.) (31.1.2019) by The Further Education Bodies (Insolvency) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/138), regs. 1(1), 32 (with regs. 1(2), 3(a)(ii))