Author
Mitch BallChief of Insolvency Operations & ASIC Registered Liquidator
(02) 9220 7117
Liquidated assets are any business assets that have been converted into cash during liquidation. Liquidation is the legal process of winding up a company—ceasing operations, selling off assets, and distributing the proceeds to creditors in a set order of priority.
Understanding what liquidation means is key: it’s a structured process designed to settle debts and formally close a business. Whether it's real estate, vehicles, equipment, or intellectual property, all assets that hold financial value can be liquidated.
What assets can be liquidated?
Identifying assets that can be converted to cash is relatively simple. To do so, it is important to consider all tangible and intangible items that possess a financial worth.
Here is a complete rundown of the most common assets that can be liquidated.:
- Real Estate: Includes residential, commercial, or rural property along with vacant land.
- Motor Vehicles: Road, off-road, heavy-duty, earth-moving, and factory transportation vehicles. This long list is made up of cars, vans, trucks, excavators, forklifts, bulldozers, pallet jacks, and more.
- Equipment: Common items are computers and software, telephones, copiers, and other electronic items such as audio accessories.
- Machinery: Appliances, instruments, heavy machines, robotics, hardware, and more.
- Furniture: Desks, chairs, cabinets, lounges, wall art, lighting, and other related items.
- Inventory: Any items, component parts, goods or raw materials that are used in the production or sales process.
- Essentials: Stationary, office supplies and day-to-day basics such as kitchen supplies.
- Tools: Hand tools, electric tools, and heavy duty tools.
- Financial Securities: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and any other marketable securities.
- Intangible Assets: Non-physical in nature and may consist of trademarks, patents, copyrights, and goodwill.
During the liquidation process, all assets are sold and transferred to cash. Although assets such as stock and bonds are considered liquid, they are transferred to cash where possible as this allows for the most efficient distribution to creditors and shareholders.
How long does it take to liquidate assets?
There is no definite timeline when it comes to the asset liquidation process, including the liquidation of business assets. Nevertheless, liquidators must still abide by the law and carry out their tasks promptly and with minimal expenses.
To do this successfully, liquidators must make sure to:
- Find, protect, and realise the assets of the company
- Determine why the company is insolvent and report any offences of ASIC
- Hold creditors meetings
- Distribute the proceeds in priority order according to law.
Further details can be found in our Comprehensive Guide To Liquidation.
Liquidation of assets examples
The cost of liquidation and the time taken to liquidate assets will depend on the nature of the asset, its value, and the level of liquidity. The two examples below can be used as a guide.
1. Company ABC – Mobile Lending
- Assets: Three motor vehicles and a loan trail book that generates $5,000 per month.
- Liquidity: Motor vehicles and mortgage trail books are very liquid items. There are multiple marketplaces where these items can be purchased and sold. Determining the market value of a motor vehicle can be done in minutes and there are also trail book calculators which can accurately value the asset.
- Time: As the assets of Company ABC are in demand, liquidating business assets should not take more than a matter of weeks.
2. Company XYZ – Print and Design
- Assets: Industrial warehouse property in rural location 100km outside metropolitan area and two large industrial printing presses that are 15 years old.
- Liquidity: Land and real estate are generally considered non-liquid assets as they can take several months to be sold. In this case, the remote location of the premises creates a further obstacle in a potential sale. Similarly, it would be very difficult to find a buyer for the large industrial presses, especially if they need to be disassembled to be moved, not to mention transported more than 100km.
- Time: A realistic timeline here would be several months. If a buyer can not be found for the printing presses, they may have to be sold with the industrial warehouse to eliminate any storage and disposal costs.
As you can see, it is difficult to place a defined timeline with respect to liquidating assets. It can be a complicated process and the focus of the liquidator is to carry out their responsibilities in a reasonable time.
How are liquidated assets distributed?
One of the most common questions is ‘who gets paid first when a company goes into liquidation'? This is a focal point for all the parties involved, and the liquidator must distribute the liquidated assets in priority order as listed below:
- The costs of liquidation (liquidator fees)
- Secured creditors
- Priority unsecured creditors (employees)
- Unsecured creditors
All money owed to each group must be settled in full before any funds from the converted resources can be made available to the next group. If complete payment to unsecured creditors is not feasible, they will be given a proportional share of the liquidated assets, and the remaining categories may receive nothing.
How do you liquidate a business asset?
It is not uncommon for the sale of business assets to occur prior to liquidation. This happens when directors are at risk of trading insolvent. In response, they will sell company assets to get an injection of cash flow that can be used to pay any outstanding debts.
The following must be given great attention in these circumstances:
- Selling company assets is perfectly legal provided directors comply with legislation. This is especially the case when assets are being sold to a related party.
- When liquidating business assets, they must be sold at a price that represents the market value. Where required, directors should obtain an independent valuation from an external party.
- Trading insolvent is illegal and directors should also be aware that they may be personally liable if any unnecessary debts are accumulated while knowingly trading while insolvent. This may include any liabilities incurred during the process of liquidating assets that remain unpaid after the sale of the assets.
These intricacies are a key driver in getting expert advice when liquidating assets and entering the liquidation process.
What happens to assets when a company is liquidated?
To initiate the liquidation of assets, the directors of a company must first acknowledge insolvency and appoint a liquidator who will then proceed with the process.
When a liquidator is chosen, the directors' roles change and they no longer have control over the company; their obligations now revolve around helping the liquidator - such as providing details about the company's assets, furnishing current financial records, describing day-to-day operations, and responding to any other reasonable queries to the best of their ability.
When it comes to liquidating assets, they are exchanged for cash and distributed in the order of priority as specified before.
After this is completed, the liquidator will finish up the company and submit the required documents to ASIC. Once these forms are filed, it will take three months before the company is officially deregistered.
Get in touch
Speak to one of our experts now for a free consultation. Enter your details below or call 1300 750 599.