Home / Guides / What do assets sell for in a liquidation
What do assets sell for in a UK liquidation?
Assets rarely sell for their book value in an insolvency. Buyers work with recovery rates, the proportion of an asset's normal value it actually fetches when sold as seen and to a timescale. Here are the rule of thumb ranges by asset type, and why they vary so much.
Last updated 2026-09-03.
The single biggest mistake a new buyer makes is assuming an asset will sell for what it is worth on a company's books. It almost never does. In a liquidation the office holder is selling quickly, as seen, with no warranty, to whoever will pay. That pushes prices down. The amount an asset actually fetches, as a proportion of its normal value, is its recovery rate, and it varies enormously by asset type.
The ranges below are widely used rules of thumb in UK insolvency practice. They are generic conventions, not a valuation of any particular company, and any real case can fall outside them. Use them to frame a starting number, then refine with your own inspection and advice.
Property: often 70 to 100%
Freehold or long leasehold property usually holds its value best. It is durable, it can be marketed properly, and there is a broad pool of buyers, so a sale near open market value is realistic. The main drags are a forced timescale and any dilapidation. Property is also the asset most likely to be subject to a fixed charge from a lender, so check who ranks ahead of you before you count on it.
Vehicles and rolling stock: often 40 to 70%
Cars, vans, trucks and plant vehicles have an active resale market with published guide prices, so they recover a reasonable proportion of value. Condition, age and service history drive the number, and anything on finance or hire purchase may not be the company's to sell at all.
Trade debtors: often 30 to 70%
The money owed to the company by its customers can be sold as a book, but its value depends entirely on how collectable it is. Recent invoices to solid customers are worth far more than old or disputed debts, and news that the company has failed can make its customers slower to pay. The spread here is wide for a reason.
Plant, machinery and equipment: often 10 to 40%
General plant and equipment tends to recover a low proportion of value. It is often specialised, expensive to remove and transport, and sold to a thin market of buyers who can use it. Specialist kit in demand can beat the range, while a fit out that suits only the old business can be worth little more than scrap.
Stock and work in progress: often 10 to 40%
Finished stock can sell in bulk to a trade buyer or a clearance operator, but rarely near retail value, and work in progress that is only part finished is worth less again. Perishable, seasonal or branded stock can move fast or not at all depending on the item.
Goodwill and intangibles: often 0 to 30%
The brand, the customer list, a website and intellectual property can carry real value while a business is trading, but goodwill is fragile once a company stops. It recovers most when the business is sold quickly as a going concern and least when it has already closed. It is the hardest asset to value and the first to fade.
How to turn ranges into an offer
Start by identifying the assets a company is likely to hold, then take a realistic value for each. Apply the recovery rate for that asset type to get an indicative realisation. Add the figures up, then apply your own discount to reflect the risk of buying as seen, the cost of removal and storage, and the lack of warranty. What is left is a defensible offer. Remember that anything subject to an outstanding charge may have to be settled from the proceeds, so the secured position feeds straight into your number.
Do this for a real company in seconds
Insolvency Tracker's asset assessment identifies the assets a specific company is likely to hold from its registered charges and its sector, applies these recovery ranges, shows who ranks ahead of you, and gives you an offer worksheet you control.
Why the ranges are so wide
Every range above spans a lot of ground, and that is honest. The same asset can fetch very different amounts depending on how quickly it must sell, how many buyers can use it, how much it costs to move, its condition, and whether the sale is a going concern or a break up. Recovery rates are a starting frame, not a promise. Treat any single figure with caution and always confirm the real position with the office holder before you commit.
See the assessment on a real company
Browse the list of UK companies in liquidation and open one to see its likely assets and recovery estimates in full.
Common questions
What is a recovery rate in a liquidation?
The proportion of an asset's normal value it actually fetches when sold in an insolvency. Property tends to recover a high proportion, while stock, plant and goodwill usually recover much less, because they are sold quickly and as seen.
Why do liquidation assets sell below their value?
Because the office holder is selling as seen, with no warranty, to a limited pool of buyers, and usually to a timescale. That combination pushes prices below what the same assets would cost from a trading business.
How do I estimate what a company's assets are worth?
Identify the assets the company is likely to hold, take a realistic value for each, then apply a recovery rate for that asset type. An asset assessment does this for a specific company using its registered charges and sector.
Company information, not advice. The recovery ranges are generic historic conventions, not a valuation and not a recommended offer.