Liquidation

The process by which a company dies. Under Part IV of the Insolvency Act 1986, there are three separate procedures - a member's voluntary winding up where a company is solvent, a creditors' voluntary winding up for insolvent companies and a compulsory winding up by the court. Once the process starts the company is administered by a liquidator who disposes of all assets, and distributes the proceeds to creditors and any remainder to shareholders. When the liquidation process is complete, the company is struck off the Companies Register and ceases to exist.