COMPANY liquidations rose by almost 8% to 1080 in the third quarter of 1999 compared with the same period a year ago, Statistics South Africa said on Thursday. It said that the rise in the total number of liquidations in the third quarter of this year was largely due to a 72,2% increase to 639 in voluntary liquidations from 371 in the third quarter of 1998. Compulsory liquidations however decreased by 30,1% to 441 from 631 during the same period.