Introduction
This legal guide summarises the key differences between a ‘voluntary strike off’ and a ‘voluntary winding up’ under the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (Companies Law). Both procedures bring a company’s existence to an end, but they differ in purpose, process, timing, cost and risk. This legal guide is designed to help clients determine the most appropriate route based on their circumstances.
Voluntary strike off
Under § 547(b) of the Bankruptcy Code (emphasis added):
- “the trustee may, based on reasonable due diligence in the circumstances of the case and taking into account a party’s known or reasonably knowable affirmative defenses under subsection (c), avoid [a preferential transfer.”
Question: What amount of detail is required in a preference complaint to satisfy the above-quoted “reasonable due diligence” requirement?
Executive Summary
Introduction
Aerovias del Continente Americano SA Avianca & Ors v Versilia Solutions Ltd [2026] EWHC 282 (Ch) covers well trodden ground on the limits to the powers of a provisional liquidator and how, in certain circumstances, they can be overcome, in this case by seeking ratification of the sale of the company’s assets.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”) which came into force on December 1, 2016, marked a decisive shift in India’s approach to insolvency and its resolution.
In the UAE business environment, a company may go through a period of temporary distress before transitioning into a legal state that necessitates initiating bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings. The difference between taking early action and waiting until the crisis exacerbates is the difference between protecting assets and reputation, and losing control over the company's trajectory.
On 11 December 2025, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed Law No. 142/2025/QH15 onRecovery and Bankruptcy (the Law on Bankruptcy 2025), marking a significant overhaulof the country's insolvency framework. The new legislation, which will take effect from1 March 2026, repeals and replaces Law No. 51/2014/QH13 on Bankruptcy (the Law onBankruptcy 2014).The Law on Bankruptcy 2025 introduces comprehensive reforms aimed at addressinglongstanding criticisms of the 2014 regime, which was widely viewed as procedurallycumbersome and slow to resolve distressed businesses.
When a company is in financial distress, creditors must consider whether to place the company into a formal external administration process. If they do so, the publicity and disruption that accompany a formal appointment may worsen an already fragile situation. Conversely, if no action is taken, the company may continue to burn cash, leaving creditors with little or no prospect of recovery.