Winding up / Dissolution

of Companies

Winding up of a Company
The term winding up of a company may be defined as
the proceedings by which a company is dissolved (i.e.
the life of a company is put to an end).
Thus, the winding up is the process of putting an end
to the life of the company. And during this process, the
assets of the company are disposed of, the debts of the
company are paid off out of the realized assets or from
the contributories and if any surplus is left, it is
distributed among the members in proportion to their
shareholding in the company.

Winding up of a Company
The winding up of the company is also called the
liquidation of the company.
The process of winding up begins after the Court
passes the order for winding up or a resolution is
passed for voluntary winding up. The company is
dissolved after completion of the winding up
proceedings.
On the dissolution, the company ceases to exist. So,
the legal procedure by which the existence of an
incorporated company is brought to an end is known
as winding up

LIQUIDATOR
A person appointed to carry out the winding up of a company is called
liquidator. If the winding up is through Court, the term used for
such person is official liquidator .
The duties of liquidator include to get in and realise the property of
the company, to pay its debts, and to distribute the surplus (if any)
among the members. The official liquidator acts under the
supervision of the Court, through a recognized reporting system .

The following are the general powers of liquidator(s): To institute or defend any suit, action, prosecution or other legal
proceeding, civil or criminal on behalf of the company.
To carry on the business of the company so far as may be necessary
for the beneficial to it.
To pay to the creditors.
To make any compromise or arrangement with creditors.
To compromise all calls and liabilities to calls, debts and liabilities
capable of resulting in debts.

LIQUIDATOR
To sell the movable and immovable property and things in
action of the company by public auction or private contract,
with power to transfer to any person or to sell the same in
parcels.
To do all acts and to execute all deeds, receipts and other
documents in the name and on behalf of the company and for
that purpose to use in the companys seal when necessary.
To prove, rank and claim in the bankruptcy, insolvency or
sequestration of any contributory for any balance against his
estate and to receive dividends as a separate debt due from
the bankrupt or insolvent in the bankruptcy.
To draw, accept, make and endorse any bill of exchange or
promissory note in the name and on behalf of the company.
To raise on the security of the assets of the company any
money.

Consequences of winding up
Some important consequences of winding up of company are:
As regards the company itself:
winding up does not mean that the company has ceased to exist. The
company exists as a corporate entity with all the rights of such entity,
with only change that its management and administration is to be
carried on through liquidator / liquidators till the final dissolution of
the company.
As regards the shareholders :
A new statutory liability as contributories comes into existence. Every
transfer of shares or alteration in the status of a shareholder, after the
winding up has commenced by the order of the Court , shall unless
approved by the liquidator , be void.

Consequences of winding up
As regards the creditors:
They cannot file or continue suits against the company, except with the
leave of the Court.
They cannot proceed with the execution, if they have obtained decrees
already.
They must lodge their claim and prove their debt before the liquidator.
As regards the management,
on appointment of liquidator, all the powers of the directors, chief
executive and other officers, shall cease, except for the purpose of
giving notice of resolution to wind up and appointment of liquidator
and filing of consent of liquidator etc.
As regards the disposition of companys property, all such dispositions are
void unless with the leave of the Court or the liquidator.

Modes of winding up
The winding up of a company may be either-

by the Court; or
voluntary; or
subject to the supervision of the Court.

Winding up of the company by the Court:

The winding up of a company by an order of the Court is called the
compulsory winding up.
Section 305 of the Ordinance envisages the following circumstances,
under which a company may be wound up by the Court on the
petition submitted to it:a)

if the company has, by special resolution, resolved that the company

be wound up by the Court;
b) if default is made in delivering the statutory report to the registrar or
in holding the statutory meeting or any two consecutive annual
general meetings;
c) if the company does not commence its business within a year from its
incorporation, or suspends its business for a whole year;
d) if the number of members is reduced, in the case of private company,
below two or, below three in case of public company and below seven
in case of listed company.;
e) if the company is unable to pay its debts;

Winding up of the company by the Court:

f) if the company isi.

conceived or brought forth for, or is or has been carrying

on, unlawful or fraudulent activities;
ii. carrying on business not authorized by the memorandum;
iii. conducting its business in a manner oppressive to any of
its members or persons concerned with the formation or
promotion of the company or the minority shareholders;
iv. run and managed by persons who fail to maintain proper
and true accounts, or commit fraud, misfeasance or
malfeasance in relation to the company; or
v. managed by persons who refuse to act according to
the requirements of the memorandum or articles or the
provisions of this Ordinance or fail to carry out the
directions or decisions of the Court or the registrar or the
Commission given in the exercise of powers under this
Ordinance;

Winding up of the company by the Court:

g) if the Court is of opinion that it is just and equitable that
the company should be wound up; or
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

Complete deadlock in the management of the company.

Failure of companys main object.
Recurring losses.
Aggressive or oppressive policy of majority shareholders.
Incorporation of company for fraudulent or illegal purpose.
Public interest.

h) if the company ceases to have a member.

Procedure for winding up of company and

filing of petition before respective High Court:
1. To pass Special Resolution by 3/4th majority of the
members of the company that the company be wound
up by the Court in case if the company itself intend to
file a petition and to file the Special Resolution on Form
26 with the registrar.
2. To prepare a list of the assets to ascertain that the
company is unable to pay its debts.
3. To prepare a list of the creditors
4. In case of defaults in payments the creditor or creditors
to make a decision for the filing of the winding up
petition.

Procedure for winding up of company and

filing of petition before respective High Court:
5. In case if the Commission or Registrar or a person
authorized by the Commission intend to file a
petition, they should not file a petition, for winding
up of the company, unless an investigation into the
affairs of the company has revealed that it was
formed for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose or
that it is carrying on a business not authorized by its
memorandum or that its business is being conducted
in a manner oppressive to any of its management has
been guilty of fraud, misfeasance or other
misconduct towards the company or towards any of
its members.
6. To engage advocates for the preparation and filing of
the petition.

Who is competent to file petition for

winding up in the Court?
Petition may be presented by any one of the
following:
1. The company may itself by passing a special
resolution
2. Creditor or Creditors.
3. Any contributory or contributories
4. Registrar of Companies
5. Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan
or by a person authorized by the Commission

Check List filing of petition before

respective High Court :.
1

Have you gone through General Heading

provided under rules

Rule 4 of
the Rules

Whether the petition is prepared / drafted on

and in accordance with the rules
Have the Petitions/ written statements/
affidavits and other proceedings are being
presented to the court is fairly and legibly
written, cyclostyled etc, and in accordance with
the format described under the rules.
Have the language of the said documents stated
at column 3 are in language of the court?

Rule 75 of
the Rules

Rule 5 of
the Rules

Rule 6 of
the Rules

Documents to be annexed with the

petition
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.

Petition for winding up to be filed on form prescribed

under the Rule 75 read with Companies Rules, (On
Form 24 (General Form) (Form 25 rule 4 of the Rules
(petition by creditor) Form 26 (petition by company)
Affidavit verifying the petition on Form 1 Rule 16 read
with rule 4 of the Rules
Copy of special resolution in case if the company
itself intend to Section 172 of the file petition
Ordinance
Copies of the agreements and other documents on
the basis of which creditors intend to file a winding
up petition will be annexed with the petition
All other supporting documents on the basis of which
the petitioner rely as an evidence

Voluntary winding up of members of

the company
A company can be wound up voluntary
a) On expiration of the period fixed for the duration of the
company by its Articles of Association or on occurrence of
event leading to dissolution of the company as provided in
the Memorandum and Articles of Association and company
has to pass a special resolution in general meeting for its
wound up voluntarily within five weeks of filing of declaration
of solvency, and
b) On passing of the special resolution that the company be
wound up voluntarily. A voluntary winding up is deemed to
commence at the time of passing of the resolution for
voluntary winding up.
The company ceases to carry out business just on commencement
of winding up. However, it can carry on its activities and
business for beneficial winding up of the company.

PROCEDURE FOR VOLUNTARY

WINDING UP
The following steps are to be taken for Members voluntary
winding up under the Provisions of the Ordinance, and the
Companies Rules.
Step 1. Where it is proposed to wind up a company voluntarily,
its directors make a declaration of solvency on Form 107
prescribed under Rule 269 of the Rules duly supported by an
auditors report and make a decision in their meeting that the
proposal to this effect may be submitted to the shareholders.
They, then, call a general meeting (Annual or Extra Ordinary) of
the members (Section 362 of the Ordinance)
Step 2. The company, on the recommendations of directors,
decides that the company be wound up voluntarily and passes
a Special Resolution, in general meeting (Annual or Extra
Ordinary) appoints a liquidator and fixes his remuneration. On
the appointment of liquidator, the Board of directors ceases to
exist. (Sections 358 and 364 of the Ordinance)

PROCEDURE FOR VOLUNTARY

WINDING UP
Step 3. Notice of resolution shall be notified in official
Gazette within 10 days and also published in the
newspapers simultaneously. A copy of it is to be filed with
registrar also. (Section 361 of the Ordinance)
Step 4. Notice of appointment or change of liquidator is to
be given to registrar by the company along with his
consent within 10 days of the event.
(Section 366 of the Ordinance)

Step 5. Every liquidator shall, within fourteen days of his

appointment, publish in the official Gazette, and deliver to
the registrar for registration, a notice of his appointment
under section 389 of the Ordinance on Form 110
prescribed under Rule 271 of the Rules.

PROCEDURE FOR VOLUNTARY

WINDING UP
Step 6 . If liquidator feels that full claims of the creditors
cannot be met, he must call a meeting of creditors and
place before them a statement of assets and liabilities.
(Section 368 of the Ordinance)
Step 7 . A return of convening the creditors meeting
together with the notice of meeting etc. shall be filed by
the liquidator with the registrar, within 10 days of the date
of meeting. (Section 368 of the Ordinance)
Step 8 . If the winding up continues beyond one year, the
liquidator should summon a general meeting at the end of
each year and make an application to the Court seeking
extension of time. (Section 387(5) of the Ordinance)

PROCEDURE FOR VOLUNTARY

WINDING UP
Step 9 . A return of convening of each general
meeting together with a copy of the notice, accounts
statement and minutes of meeting should be filed
with the registrar within 10 days of the date of
meeting. (Section 369 of the Ordinance)
Step 10. As soon as affairs of the company are fully
wound up, the liquidator shall make a report and
account of winding up, call a final meeting of
members, notice of convening of final meeting on
Form 111 prescribed under Rule 279 of the Rules
before which the report / accounts shall be placed.
(Section 370 of the Ordinance)

PROCEDURE FOR VOLUNTARY

WINDING UP
Step 11. A notice of such meeting shall be
published in the Gazette and newspapers at least10
days before the date of meeting. (Section 370 of
the Ordinance).
Step 12. Within a week after the meeting, the
liquidator shall send to the registrar a copy of the
report and accounts on Form 112 prescribed under
Rule 279 of the Rules. (Section 370 of the Ordinance)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR

VOLUNTARILY WINDING UP BY MEMBERS
Special Resolution on Form-26 (prescribed under the
Companies (General Provisions and Forms) Rules, 1985 for
voluntary winding up.
Declaration of Solvency on Form 107 under the Rules.
Affidavit by Directors of the company including Chief Executive
verifying the attached auditors report, profit and loss account,
balance sheet, statement of assets and liabilities prepared from
the date of closing of last accounts till the latest practicable
date, immediately before the making of declaration.
Consent of liquidator.
A copy of Notice of resolution passed for winding up the
company voluntarily and published in the Official Gazette.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR

VOLUNTARILY WINDING UP BY MEMBERS
A copy of Notice for appointment of liquidator and published
in the Official Gazette.
A copy of Preliminary report prepared by the liquidator.
Final report and accounts of the company prepared by
liquidator presented in General meeting of shareholders after
finalization of winding up.
Notice of final meeting.
Return containing final report and accounts along with minutes
of meeting to be filed with the concerned Company
Registration Office.