Insolvency Act 1986

Removal; vacation of officeE+W+S

171 Removal, etc. (voluntary winding up).E+W+S

(1)This section applies with respect to the removal from office and vacation of office of the liquidator of a company which is being wound up voluntarily.

(2)Subject to the next subsection, the liquidator may be removed from office only by an order of the court or—

(a)in the case of a members’ voluntary winding up, by a general meeting of the company summoned specially for that puropose, or

(b)in the case of a creditors’ voluntary winding up, by a [F1decision of the company's creditors made by a qualifying decision procedure instigated] specially for that purpose in accordance with the rules.

[F2(3)Where the liquidator in a members' voluntary winding up was appointed by the court under section 108, a meeting such as is mentioned in subsection (2)(a) shall be summoned only if—

(a)the liquidator thinks fit,

(b)the court so directs, or

(c)the meeting is requested in accordance with the rules by members representing not less than one-half of the total voting rights of all the members having at the date of the request a right to vote at the meeting.

(3A)Where the liquidator in a creditors' voluntary winding up was appointed by the court under section 108, a qualifying decision procedure such as is mentioned in subsection (2)(b) is to be instigated only if—

(a)the liquidator thinks fit,

(b)the court so directs, or

(c)it is requested in accordance with the rules by not less than one-half in value of the company's creditors.]

(4)A liquidator shall vacate office if he ceases to be a person who is qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner in relation to the company.

(5)A liquidator may, in the prescribed circumstances, resign his office by giving notice of his resignation to the registrar of companies.

[F3(6)In the case of a members' voluntary winding up where the liquidator has produced an account of the winding up under section 94 (final account), the liquidator vacates office as soon as the liquidator has complied with section 94(3) (requirement to send final account to registrar).

(7)In the case of a creditors' voluntary winding up where the liquidator has produced an account of the winding up under section 106 (final account), the liquidator vacates office as soon as the liquidator has complied with section 106(3) (requirement to send final account etc. to registrar).]

172 Removal, etc. (winding up by the court).E+W+S

(1)This section applies with respect to the removal from office and vacation of office of the liquidator of a company which is being wound up by the court, or of a provisional liquidator.

(2)Subject as follows, the liquidator may be removed from office only by an order of the court or by a [F4decision of the company's creditors made by a qualifying decision procedure instigated] specially for that purpose in accordance with the rules; and a provisional liquidator may be removed from office only by an order of the court.

(3)Where—

(a)the official receiver is liquidator otherwise than in succession under section 136(3) to a person who held office as a result of a nomination by F5... the company’s creditors or contributories, or

(b)the liquidator was appointed by the court otherwise than under section 139(4)(a) or 140(1), or was appointed by the Secretary of State,

[F6a qualifying decision procedure such as is mentioned in subsection (2) shall be instigated only if the liquidator thinks fit, the court so directs, or it] is requested, in accordance with the rules, by not less than one-quarter, in value, of the creditors.

(4)If appointed by the Secretary of State, the liquidator may be removed from office by a direction of the Secretary of State.

(5)A liquidator or provisional liquidator, not being the official receiver, shall vacate office if he ceases to be a person who is qualified to act as an insolvency practitioner in relation to the company.

(6)A liquidator may, in the prescribed circumstances, resign his office by giving notice of his resignation to the court.

(7)Where an order is made under section 204 (early dissolution in Scotland) for the dissolution of the company, the liquidator shall vacate office when the dissolution of the company takes effect in accordance with that section.

[F7(8)Where the liquidator has produced an account of the winding up under section 146 (final account), the liquidator vacates office as soon as the liquidator has complied with section 146(4) (requirement to send account etc. to registrar and to court).]