Insolvency Act 1986, section 125

Powers of court on hearing of petition

Part IV Winding Up of Companies Registered under the Companies Acts

(1)On hearing a winding-up petition the court may dismiss it, or adjourn the hearing conditionally or unconditionally, or make an interim order, or any other order that it thinks fit; but the court shall not refuse to make a winding-up order on the ground only that the company’s assets have been mortgaged to an amount equal to or in excess of those assets, or that the company has no assets.

(2)If the petition is presented by members of the company as contributories on the ground that it is just and equitable that the company should be wound up, the court, if it is of opinion—

(a)that the petitioners are entitled to relief either by winding up the company or by some other means, and

(b)that in the absence of any other remedy it would be just and equitable that the company should be wound up,

shall make a winding-up order; but this does not apply if the court is also of the opinion both that some other remedy is available to the petitioners and that they are acting unreasonably in seeking to have the company wound up instead of pursuing that other remedy.

Definitions used in section 125 1

the company

2 Section 233B does not apply in relation to a contract for the supply of goods or services to a company (“the company”) where any of paragraphs 3 to 11 applies.

Defined in Sch.4ZZA para.2 · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 125 27

Badyal v Badyal & Ors

[2019] EWCA Civ 1644 · 8 October 2019Interprets

The court confirms that, where another remedy is available and the petitioner acts unreasonably in seeking winding up instead, the court should not make a winding-up order. This supports describing winding up as generally a last resort and exceptional remedy in shareholder disputes. (see paras [29]-[30])

HM Revenue and Customs v Changtel Solutions UK Ltd

[2015] EWCA Civ 29 · 28 January 2015Interprets

The permissive power to dismiss a petition confirms that the Companies Court retains an ultimate discretion whether to dismiss or make a winding-up order (see paras [36]; [41]–[42]).

Fulham Football Club (1987) Ltd v Richards & Anor

[2011] EWCA Civ 855 · 21 July 2011

The court used section 125(2) to explain why winding-up on the just-and-equitable ground is a last resort where another remedy is available and a petitioner unreasonably seeks winding-up instead. (see paras [54]-[56])

7 more judgments, and what each says about section 125, are in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

3 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Modifications

  1. C340S. 125 applied (with modifications) (1.12.1994) by S.I. 1994/2421, art. 8(3)(9), Sch. 4 Pt. II para. 9
  2. C341S. 125 applied (with modifications) (6.6.2013) by The Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (Contractual Scheme) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1388), Pt. 3 reg. 1, Sch. 2 paras. 3, 5 Table (with reg. 24)
  3. C342S. 125 excluded (31.1.2019) by Technical and Further Education Act 2017 (c. 19), ss. 11, 47(2); S.I. 2018/1161, reg. 3(a)