Compulsory liquidation

Compulsory liquidation is the process of winding-up a company by the court. It is most frequently used by a company’s creditors, but it is possible for others—such as the company itself, or members—to also use this process. It is an alternative to voluntary liquidation (both creditors’ voluntary liquidation (CVL) and members’ voluntary liquidation).

The circumstances in which a company can be wound up by the court

By a company’s creditors

A winding-up petition is most commonly issued by a creditor who is owed money and is unable to recover it through the usual debt recovery methods. A creditor may issue a petition on the following grounds:

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they have served a statutory demand and the 21-day period for payment/response has expired
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they have an enforcement or execution process following a judgment, which is unsatisfied, either in full or in part, or
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they are able to prove to the court that the company is unable to pay its debts as and when they fall due, or that the company is balance sheet insolvent—as per the definition of insolvency under the section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986 ( To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

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Presentation of winding up petition prevented by lender’s potential misrepresentation (Alpha Schools (Holdings) Ltd v Signal Alpha III Fund LP)

Restructuring & Insolvency analysis: This was an application for an injunction to restrain presentation of a winding up petition. The respondent was a company which asserted that it was entitled, pursuant to a term sheet prepared during loan negotiations, to a £350,000 break fee and certain other sums. The applicant’s main argument was that it had a cross-claim in misrepresentation which meant that (1) the term sheet, to the extent that it had contractual force, had been rescinded and (2) there was in any event a damages claim large enough to extinguish the alleged debt. It was held that there was sufficient evidence of misrepresentation to meet the test. The applicant was entitled to an injunction. Written by Nora Wannagat, barrister at Tanfield Chambers.

Restructuring & Insolvency weekly highlights—19 December 2024

This week's edition of Restructuring & Insolvency weekly highlights includes: the publication by the Insolvency Service of its monthly insolvency statistics for November 2024, an examination of the meaning of ‘unregistered company’ under section 220(1) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986) (East Riding of Yorkshire Council v KMG), analysis of the Commercial Court’s guidance on pleading and proving claims under IA 1986, s 423 (Invest Bank PSC v El-Husseini), plus a round-up of other news and cases for restructuring and insolvency professionals.

Challenge to administrators’ conduct dismissed (Re CJFL Property Partners Ltd; Nardelli v Richardson)

Restructuring & Insolvency analysis: The court dismissed the applicants’ applications to remove and replace the joint administrators. The administrators’ decisions fell within the range of decisions that were open to them, even though further renegotiations with the secured creditor (Desiman) and the purchaser’s ‘chipping’ at the purchase price during turbulent economic conditions eroded the prospect the applicants would receive an economic return in the administration. In that respect, Desiman could be said to have driven a hard commercial bargain, but that was not a circumstance for which the administrators were ultimately responsible. Nor was it sufficient for any of the allegations to be made out. Written by Samuel Parsons, barrister at Erskine Chambers.

Court of Appeal clarifies when a dissolved partnership may bring litigation (Flohr v Frontiers Capital I Ltd Partnership)

Restructuring & Insolvency analysis: The Court of Appeal has confirmed that the authority to bind a firm for the purposes of its winding up (conferred on partners after the dissolution of a partnership by section 38 of the Partnership Act 1890 (PA 1890)) applies to pursuing causes of action which accrued prior to dissolution. Whether PA 1890, s 38 will permit partners of a dissolved partnership to pursue litigation post-dissolution is a fact sensitive question. The question is whether such litigation is reasonably required in all the circumstances to wind up the affairs of the partnership. Relevant considerations are not circumscribed and will include considerations of prospects of success and cost-effectiveness. In Flohr, the Court of Appeal confirmed a general partner of a limited partnership governed by the Limited Partnership Act 1907 (LPA 1907) was empowered to sue a third party on behalf of the partnership notwithstanding the dissolution and winding up of the partnership. This was so even though the relevant cause of action arose prior to dissolution. Written by James Fagan, Barrister, at Radcliffe Chambers.

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