FAQs
Liquidation in finance and economics is the process of bringing a business to an end and distributing its assets to claimants. It is an event that usually occurs when a company is insolvent, meaning it cannot pay its obligations when they are due.
What does being in liquidation mean? ›
Liquidation is the process of converting a company's assets into cash, and using those funds to repay, as much as possible, the company's debts. Liquidation results in the company being shut down.
What does liquidate mean in business? ›
Business liquidation is the direct conversion of assets to cash or cash equivalents by selling them to a user or consumer. Liquidation is typically an option if your business is insolvent and can't pay its bill or debts. When your business is liquidated, any remaining assets are paid to creditors and shareholders.
What is the process of liquidation? ›
Liquidation is a process in which the company is brought to an end. Also, the assets and property of the company are redistributed to the creditors and owners. Liquidation is also referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation.
Is liquidation good or bad? ›
Liquidation may be the best option for a company if it is no longer able to meet its financial obligations, if it has a large amount of debt that cannot be paid off, or if it is insolvent.
What is an example of liquidation? ›
Liquidation is the process of selling off assets to repay creditors and dissolve a business. An example of liquidation would be a company selling off its inventory, property, and other assets in order to pay its creditors and close its doors.
Why do people go into liquidation? ›
A CVL takes place when a company is insolvent and no longer has the ability to pay liabilities or continue trading. It is the directors duty to instruct an insolvency practitioner in this case.
Does liquidation mean the end? ›
The company will stop doing business and employing people. The company will not exist once it's been removed ('struck off') from the companies register at Companies House. When you liquidate a company, its assets are used to pay off its debts. Any money left goes to shareholders.
How does liquidation work? ›
Liquidation is a legal process in which a liquidator is appointed to 'wind up' the affairs of a limited company. At the end of the process, the company ceases to exist. Liquidation does not mean that the creditors of the company will get paid.
Is liquidation the same as selling? ›
Liquidation sales are different to going out of business sales. A company holds a liquidation sale when it is entering the liquidation process to try to sell off its assets, and any remaining stock, as quickly as possible in order to raise the funds to pay the liquidator's fees, HMRC commitments and its creditors.
disadvantages to Liquidation
The business will no longer be able to trade and will likely be restricted from using the same or similar company name again in the future. Any employees will lose their jobs and so will the directors. Shareholders may have to repay illegal dividends (not paid out of profit).
Does it cost money to liquidate? ›
If the company has assets at the point of liquidation then the costs of the liquidation will be paid from the value of these assets. But if this isn't the case, an insolvency practitioner will generally ask the directors to cover the liquidation costs so that he/she can be certain that they will be paid.
What are the 3 types of liquidation? ›
What are the three different types of liquidation?
- Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation. ...
- Compulsory liquidation. ...
- Members' Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) for solvent companies.
What is the main purpose of liquidation? ›
The purpose of liquidation is to ensure that all the company's affairs have been dealt with and all its assets realised. When this has been done, the liquidator will apply to have the company removed from the register at the Companies House and dissolved, which means it ceases to exist.
Who pays for liquidation? ›
These costs are usually covered by the company's assets. However, if there are no company assets or cash available, directors may need to pay from their personal funds.
What does it mean if you get liquidated? ›
In financial terms, liquidation refers to the process of converting assets into cash or cash equivalents by selling them on the market. In the context of trading, liquidation specifically refers to the closing of positions, either voluntarily by the trader or forcibly by the broker, usually when a margin call occurs.
What happens when you go into liquidation? ›
The company will stop doing business and employing people. The company will not exist once it's been removed ('struck off') from the companies register at Companies House. When you liquidate a company, its assets are used to pay off its debts. Any money left goes to shareholders.
What Does funds for liquidation mean? ›
Liquidation involves the sale of all of a fund's assets and the distribution of the proceeds to the fund shareholders. At best, it means shareholders are forced to sell at a time, not of their choosing. At worst, it means shareholders suffer a loss and pay capital gains taxes too.
Is liquidation the same as closing? ›
Closing your business, also known as liquidation or dissolution, is the process in accounting by which a business is brought to an end for different reasons and by different processes. The assets and property of the company are sold or transferred.