Settlement - Settlement

A procedure carried out to settle legal relations after a company ceases its normal activities due to dissolution. Specifically, it is a procedure aimed at completing current business, collecting claims, paying off debts, and distributing remaining assets (Companies Act, Articles 481 and 649). In the case of a company, liquidation procedures are carried out when the company is dissolved for reasons other than merger or the commencement of bankruptcy procedures, and when a judgment of invalidity of incorporation or stock transfer becomes final (Companies Act, Article 475). The procedure is carried out as a liquidating company, which has the same legal personality as the previous company, but only exists within the scope of the purpose of liquidation (Companies Act, Articles 476 and 645). In order to protect the interests of company creditors, voluntary liquidation (Companies Act, Article 668) as in the case of personal companies is not permitted, and only statutory liquidation, which should be carried out according to statutory procedures, is permitted. Statutory liquidation is divided into ordinary liquidation (Articles 475 to 509 of the same law), which is carried out when no particular obstacles are expected to be present in carrying out the liquidation, and special liquidation (Articles 510 to 574 of the same law), which is carried out under strict court supervision when the company is suspected of being insolvent. The liquidation of a company is carried out by a liquidator (Article 478 of the same law), and when all liquidation procedures are completed, the company ceases to exist and a registration of completion of liquidation is made.

[Shuzo Toda and Norihiko Fukuhara]

"Tax and accounting for company dissolution and liquidation by case" edited by Takano Accounting Office (2007, Tax Research Institute Publishing Bureau)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

会社が解散によって本来の活動を停止したのち、その法律関係の後始末のためになされる手続。具体的には、現務の結了、債権の取立て、債務の弁済、残余財産の分配を目的とする手続である（会社法481条、649条）。会社の場合に清算手続が行われるのは、合併または破産手続開始以外の原因で解散したとき、および設立無効判決・株式移転無効判決が確定したときである（同法475条）。その手続は清算会社として行われ、それは従前の会社と同一の法人格を有するが、清算の目的の範囲内においてのみ存在するにすぎない（同法476条、645条）。株式会社では、会社債権者の利益を保護するために、人的会社の場合のような任意清算（同法668条）は認められず、法定の手続によるべき法定清算のみが認められる。法定清算には、清算の遂行に特別の障害が予想されない場合に行われる通常清算（同法475条～509条）と、会社に債務超過等の疑いがある場合に裁判所の厳重な監督のもとに行われる特別清算（同法510条～574条）に分かれる。会社の清算事務は清算人（同法478条）によってなされ、すべての清算手続が結了すれば会社は消滅し、清算結了登記がなされる。

［戸田修三・福原紀彦］

『高野総合会計事務所編『ケース別会社解散・清算の税務と会計』（2007・税務研究会出版局）』

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