Winding Up a Cayman Islands Company

Introduction

A Cayman Islands company can be dissolved by the appointment of a liquidator or it can be dissolved without such appointment if the company is struck off the register as a result of an application to the Registrar of Companies for the purpose.

Voluntary Liquidation of a Company in the Cayman Islands

In circumstances where the company has been active and has substantial assets and liabilities, it is normal for the company to be liquidated.

If liquidation is pursued the company would normally agree the liquidation fee with the liquidator and will often be requested to provide the liquidators with an indemnity.

Voluntary winding up (liquidation) pursuant to the Companies Act (as Revised) involves the following procedures:

Directors meeting

The Directors commence a voluntary winding up by holding a meeting of the Board of Directors to give notice to the shareholders that an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders is to be held to consider the passing of a Special Resolution that the company be placed in voluntary liquidation.

Shareholders’ meeting

The secretary of the company should circulate the appropriate notice convening the meeting. The appropriate period of notice will be determined by reference to the articles of association and the Companies Act as the period for a special resolution. The shareholders of the company pass a special resolution that the company be voluntarily wound up and a liquidator appointed. Alternatively, if the articles of association permit it, a written resolution may be signed by all the members of the company.

A special resolution is one which is passed by a two thirds majority of the shareholders present at a meeting duly convened by notice specifying the time and place of the meeting and the resolution to be passed. Alternatively, and if so provided for in the Articles of Association of the company, the special resolution may take the form of a circular resolution. However, this type of resolution has to be approved in writing by all of the members entitled to vote at a general meeting of the company.

A copy of the special resolution is then filed with the Registrar of Companies and the liquidation commences.

Public notice

Notice of the special resolution winding up the company and appointing the joint liquidators is published in the Gazette advising of the company liquidation and advertising for creditors to come forward. The Liquidator then proceeds to collect the assets and discharge the liabilities of the company.

If the date of the final meeting can be established at this stage (i.e. the company has no assets or liabilities) notice of the date of the final meeting can be placed in the Cayman Gazette at this time.

As soon as the affairs of the company are fully wound up, the liquidators advertise by public notice or otherwise as the Registrar may direct, the time, place and object of the final general meeting of the company, which is to be held not less than one month after the date the notice is published, for the purposes of explaining the final accounts of the business liquidation.

If the company has no assets or liabilities and the date of the final meeting has already been set at the time that the notice of liquidation was published, the liquidator may proceed to hold the final meeting.

Liquidators’ reports

In the terms of the statutory insolvency provisions, the liquidators must report back to the members of the company periodically through the liquidation process so as to keep them informed of the collection and realisation of assets and the settlement of liabilities. All such meetings will be convened at the instance of the joint liquidators.

An interim report by the liquidators will provide detail of the assets identified and the liabilities claimed and accepted as being due and owing. The report may also indicate what, if any, dividend is to be paid on liabilities including any distribution that is anticipated for the benefit of the shareholders.

The company liquidation itself is concluded after the liquidators have provided their final report to the members. The liquidators will, once again, convene the appropriate meeting and present their final report. After the conclusion of that final meeting, the liquidators must file a notice confirming that the meeting has been held and the appropriate resolutions approved to conclude liquidation.

The following consequences shall ensue upon the voluntary winding up of a company:

1. Voluntary winding up and dissolution is taken to have commenced on the date of the special resolution referred to above
2. The company from the date of commencement of winding up ceases to carry on its business, except in so far as may be required for the beneficial winding up thereof. However all of the company’s corporate powers shall continue until the affairs of the company are wound up
3. The property of the company shall be applied in satisfaction of its liabilities pari passu and subject thereto, shall, unless it be otherwise provided by regulations of the company, be distributed amongst the members according to their rights and interests in the company
4. Upon appointment of the liquidators all the powers of the directors shall cease, except insofar as the company, by resolution of its members or the liquidators, may sanction the continuation of such powers. All transfers of shares and any alteration to the status of the members of the company requires the sanction of the liquidator

Dissolution of a Cayman Islands company

The liquidator completes the process by preparing a return relating to the final meeting in the prescribed form and filing it with the Registrar of Companies. The company is deemed to be dissolved three months from the date of registration of the return.

Winding-Up a Cayman Islands company by the Court

A winding-up by the court, also referred to as a compulsory winding-up or liquidation, follows the filing with the court of a winding up petition presented by the company, one or more creditors or shareholders, a combination of these. Against its licensees, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”) can also apply for a winding-up of a company.

The winding up petition that is filed with the court will nominate a liquidator and briefly summarise the reasons why the party is applying for the company to be wound up. The grounds for the petition to wind up the company set out in the Companies Act are as follows:

1. the company has passed a special resolution requiring the company to be wound up by the court
2. the company does not commence its business within a year from its incorporation, or suspends its business for a whole year
3. the company is unable to pay its debts
4. the court is of the opinion that it is just and equitable that the company shall be wound up

Pursuant to the Grand Court Rules 102(6) it is prescribed that a petitioner must at the same time as issuing a petition, take out a summons for directions. On the hearing of the summons, the court will give such directions as it deems fit, including inter alia directions for publication of notices.

There is a moratorium on proceedings (commencing or continuing) against the company, unless expressly permitted by the court upon the winding-up order being made. Also prohibited are transfers of shares, adjustments in shareholders’ status and dispositions of property. This is the same for court supervised liquidations. Upon completion of the liquidation process and asset distribution to entitled parties, the dissolution of the company will be ordered by the court.

Liquidation Under the Supervision of the Court

During a voluntary liquidation, Cayman Islands law provides for the protection of the potential economic interests of creditors. The court can impose its supervision on the voluntary winding-up of the company. In this manner, the court protects the interest of the creditors, as well as allowing for the creditors to be involved in the winding-up of the company. The application for the liquidation to be supervised by the court can be made by any party, by filing a petition stating a financial interest. Upon the completion of the liquidation process, and when the assets of the company have been distributed to those entitles, the dissolution of the company will be ordered by the court.

Striking Off a Company in the Cayman Islands

A company may apply to the Registrar of Companies and request to be struck off the register. The Registrar has the ability to strike a company off the register, thereby dissolving it. A company can also be struck off by the Registrar if he believes that the company is no longer carrying on business. Striking off (rather than liquidation) is an expedient way of dissolving a company and does not require the use of a liquidator therefore, the company does not incur the costs of the company liquidation process.

The striking off process does not deal with liabilities to creditors and is not suitable for companies with intricate dealings or valuable assets. Any assets held by a company which is struck off will pass consequently to the Crown as a bona vacantia upon dissolution. In cases where there are dissatisfies creditors or members, they can apply to the Registrar for up to two years after the striking off to have the company restored to the register. The Governor may allow an extension of 10 years if the court feels that it is right to do so – for example, in such cases where it feels the creditors should be allowed to take proceedings to recover assets. The striking off process, therefore, does not cut off creditors’ options in the way that a properly executed liquidation process would, and the creditors who wish to challenge distributions made to the shareholders prior to liquidation, for example, may be able to raise claims well after the striking off.

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