s that belonged to the company. This is to realise the value of the company, and distribute the assets. Assets must always be distributed in the order of statutory priority: releasing the claims of fixed security

Apart from petitions by the company or creditors, an administrator has the power to move a company into liquidation, carrying out an asset sale, if its attempts at rescue come to an end.[145] If the liquidator is not an administrator, he is appointed by the court usually on the nomination of the majority of creditors.[146] The liquidator can be removed by the same groups.[147] Once in place, the liquidator has the power to do anything set out in sections 160, 165 and Schedule 4 for the purpose of its main duty. This includes bringing legal claims that belonged to the company. This is to realise the value of the company, and distribute the assets. Assets must always be distributed in the order of statutory priority: releasing the claims of fixed security interest holders, paying preferential creditors (the liquidator's expenses, employees and pensions, and the ring fenced fund for unsecured creditors),[148] the floating charge holder, unsecured creditors, deferred debts, and finally shareholders.[149] In the performance of these basic tasks, the liquidator owes its duties to the company, not individual creditors or shareholders.[150] They can be liable for breach of duty by exercising powers for improper purposes (e.g. not distributing money to creditors in the right order,[151]) and may be sued additionally for negligence.[152] As a person in a fiduciary position, he may have no conflict of interest or make secret profits. Nevertheless, liquidators (like administrators and some receivers) can generally be said to have a broad degree of discretion about the conduct of liquidation. They must realise assets to distribute to creditors, and they may attempt to maximise these by bringing new litigation, either to avoid transactions entered into by the insolvent company, or by suing the former directors.
Increasing assets
Litigation by administrators and liquidators may avoid unfair transactions or preferences, and make former directors pay for wrongdoing. But because of a cautious culture, accountants bring few claims.