Liquidation

Guidance through every step

Whether you're dealing with voluntary liquidation to recover shareholder funds or an unavoidable process due to business failure, liquidation requires expert guidance and a clear strategy. At BDO, we provide the necessary support throughout the entire liquidation process, ensuring that is managed efficiently and in compliance with all legal requirements.

We offer tailored solutions for both solvent and insolvent liquidations, from Members’ Voluntary Liquidations (MVL) to Creditors' Voluntary Liquidations (CVL) and Court Liquidations. Our team ensures that every aspect of the liquidation process is handled smoothly, providing you with clarity and peace of mind during a difficult time.

What is Liquidation and when is it needed?


Liquidation is the formal process of winding up a company’s affairs, selling its assets, settling its debts, and dissolving the business. It can be voluntary, initiated by the company’s shareholders, or involuntary, often when a company is unable to pay its debts and creditors seek to recover their funds.

  • Voluntary liquidation: Directors or shareholders choose to liquidate the company, usually due to the company having no future prospects or having completed its purpose. This may include solvent liquidations (Members' Voluntary Liquidations) or winding up the company for strategic reasons (e.g. shareholder retirement or business separation).
  • Insolvent liquidation: When a company cannot pay its debts, a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) or Court Liquidation is pursued to manage the winding-up process under legal supervision.

At BDO, we manage both solvent and insolvent liquidations, providing clear, expert advice and ensuring all steps are carried out in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.


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Our Liquidation Services

We offer a full range of liquidation services, managing the entire process from start to finish. Our expert team ensures that everything is handled efficiently, maximising returns for stakeholders and ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements.


A Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) is the formal winding-up process for a solvent company. It is often used when a company has fulfilled its purpose or is no longer required, and directors wish to extract funds and dissolve the business in a controlled and tax-efficient manner.

MVLs are appropriate in a range of scenarios, including:

  • Closure of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) or regulated investment fund

  • Retirement of shareholders and return on investment

  • Business separation due to shareholder dispute

  • Corporate group simplification or removal of dormant entities

We manage the process from start to finish, working with directors, legal advisors, investment managers, and tax consultants to ensure an efficient, compliant, and commercially sound outcome.

Our MVL services include:

  • Advising directors on strategy and preparing winding-up documentation

  • Taking appointment as liquidator and managing asset realisation

  • Settling outstanding liabilities and handling shareholder distributions

  • Coordinating with the Revenue Commissioners and Central Bank of Ireland for tax clearance and regulatory revocation

  • Filing all statutory documents with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) and arranging full dissolution

A Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) is initiated by directors when a company is insolvent — meaning it can no longer meet its financial obligations — and there is no reasonable prospect of recovery. It enables directors to step back while a licensed insolvency practitioner takes control and winds up the company’s affairs.

CVLs are often used where the business is no longer viable due to financial loss, market changes, or the loss of key contracts. Our role is to manage the liquidation process in a way that provides clarity for creditors and enables a clean exit for directors.

Our CVL services include:

  • Reviewing the company’s position and advising on next steps

  • Acting as liquidator and managing day-to-day control of the company

  • Conducting investigations into the reasons for failure

  • Identifying and recovering available assets

  • Managing creditor meetings and reporting obligations

  • Ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements

Court Liquidation is a process initiated either by a creditor or by the company itself through a court petition, usually where the company is insolvent or where urgent legal intervention is required to protect remaining assets.

This form of liquidation may be appropriate when a creditor seeks to recover outstanding debt or when directors need to act swiftly in the face of legal or financial pressures.

We have extensive experience acting as liquidator in court-appointed cases across all industries, providing a balanced approach that considers the interests of all stakeholders.

Our Court Liquidation services include:

  • Advising on the petition process and acting as liquidator following appointment

  • Conducting formal investigations into the company’s affairs

  • Recovering and realising assets for the benefit of creditors

  • Liaising with legal teams, creditors and regulatory bodies

  • Managing all reporting, statutory filings, and final dissolution


Why choose BDO for Liquidation?

At BDO, we understand that every liquidation scenario is unique. Our team of restructuring and insolvency specialists offers decades of experience across a broad range of industries and company structures — from small family businesses to complex corporate groups.


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What you can expect from us:

  • End-to-end management: From initial advice to final dissolution, we handle every step
  • Tailored solutions: Bespoke support for solvent and insolvent companies
  • Cross-border capability: Access to BDO’s international network for global group wind-downs
  • Regulatory expertise: Deep understanding of statutory requirements, CRO processes, and tax implications
  • Creditor and stakeholder focus: Transparent communication and commitment to fair outcomes

Whether you're navigating a planned closure or responding to financial stress, our team is here to help you wind up your business with clarity, compliance, and confidence.

Meet our specialist and discuss your Liquidation options

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Jim Hamilton

Consultant, BDO Dublin
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Peter Doherty

Director, BDO Dublin
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Stephen O'Flaherty

Partner, BDO Limerick
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David O'Connor

Partner, BDO Dublin
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