The Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

Winding up of company holding realisable property

38.—(1) Where realisable property is held by a company and an order for the winding up of the company has been made or a resolution has been passed by the company for the voluntary winding up, the functions of the liquidator (or any provisional liquidator) shall not be exercisable in relation to—

(a) property for the time being subject to a restraint order made before the relevant time, and

(b) any proceeds of property realised by virtue of Article 31(8) or 34(5) or (6) for the time in the hands of a receiver appointed under Article 31 or 34.

(2) Where, in the case of a company, such an order has been made or such a resolution has been passed, the powers conferred on the High Court by Articles 31 to 35 or on a receiver so appointed shall not be exercised in relation to any realisable property held by the company in relation to which the functions of the liquidator are exercisable—

(a) so as to inhibit him from exercising those functions for the purpose of distributing any property held by the company to the company’s creditors; or

(b) so as to prevent the payment out of any property of expenses (including the remuneration of the liquidator or any provisional liquidator) properly incurred in the winding up in respect of the property.

(3) Nothing in the [1989 NI 19.] Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 shall be taken as restricting, or enabling the restriction of, the exercise of those powers.

(4) Paragraph (2) does not affect the enforcement of a charging order made before the relevant time or on property which was subject to a restraint order at the relevant time.

(5) In this Article—

“company” means any company which may be wound up under the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989; and

“the relevant time” means—

(a)

where no order for the winding up of the company has been made, the time of the passing of the resolution for voluntary winding up;

(b)

where such an order has been made but, before the presentation of the petition for the winding up of the company by the High Court, such a resolution has been passed by the company, the time of the passing of the resolution; and

(c)

in any other case where such an order has been made, the time of the making of the order.