If two incorporated associations wish to combine, they may choose to amalgamate or one association may decide to wind up and transfer its assets to the other.

To amalgamate, the two associations must each resolve separately by special resolution to amalgamate as a new association. A special resolution is one where twenty one days written notice of the resolution must be given and three quarters of those voting must approve it. Normally, the members of both associations will have agreed on a new constitution and hold a joint meeting where the members of each association pass their resolutions consecutively and the newly amalgamated group then continues with the meeting. The property and the rights and liabilities of the former association become the property, rights and liabilities of the association formed by the amalgamation. There is a fee and a form to register the amalgamation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (part of Consumer and Business Services) and the form makes it clear how the procedure works.

The alternative method is for one organisation to resolve to wind up and to transfer its assets to another association, which may make changes to its constitution to reflect the new arrangements.

Very occasionally, two associations wind up and transfer their assets to a third newly formed group. The associations which wind up no longer exist, so in most circumstances their contracts and other legal obligations terminate.

Where the Corporate Affairs Commission thinks that an association no longer complies with the eligibility requirements for incorporation, or that the association's operations would more appropriately be performed by a body incorporated under another Act, then it may send a notice to the association informing it of this opinion. The association has three months to request the commission to transfer its operations to another body corporate. The commission may then order the transfer and on the date of the order, the property, rights and liabilities of the association become the property, rights and liabilities of the body corporate referred to in the order [Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (SA) s 42].

An incorporated association can voluntarily resolve to wind up as provided in its rules, or it can be wound up by the Supreme Court or the Corporate Affairs Commission [Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (SA) s 41].

If an association voluntarily resolves to wind up and assets exceeding $5000 remain after its debts have been paid, a liquidator must be appointed to distribute the assets in accordance with the association's rules. This is a similar procedure to a company winding up. Usually, an association's rules provide that assets will be paid to non-profit organisations with similar aims or with other charitable aims. The assets cannot be distributed to members unless the members are all incorporated associations with identical or similar aims and objects to that of the association winding up. The Corporate Affairs Commission may approve the appointment of someone who is not a registered company liquidator, as liquidator of the association [Associations Incorporation Act 1985 s 41(9), s (10)].

If an association has surplus assets not exceeding $5000, it can apply to Corporate Affairs Commission for deregistration [Associations Incorporation Act 1985 s 43A]. Normally, the application must be made following a special resolution of the association. However, if there are no longer sufficient active members to do this, the application can be made by at least two people, each of whom is either an officer of the association, a member of the association, or a person who, in the opinion of the Corporate Affairs Commission, has a proper interest in the application.

In this situation, a liquidator is not appointed, but the Corporate Affairs Commission must approve the manner of distribution of assets. Further, the Commission must publish a notice to check that no-one believes the association has any liabilities. Consumer and Business Services can provide you with the relevant form and fee details.

The Supreme Court can wind up an incorporated association if [Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (SA) s 41(3)]:

The Corporate Affairs Commission can wind up an incorporated association if [Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (SA) s 41(7)]: