Record Yield
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Insolvency14 August 2026 · 2 min read

Why a failed company's emails may be its last valuable asset

When a company fails, its vans and laptops sell for a fraction of their cost, but its archive of how work got done can be worth more than the furniture.

1Preserveservers andaccounts2Assess what'sheld3De-identify ina sealed room4Buyers compete5Proceeds tocreditors
Realising an estate's records

What makes an estate archive valuable

  • 25+ staff at peak and two or more years of records.
  • Several systems: email, chat, tickets, CRM.
  • Clear control by the office holder, and records not under client confidentiality.

The duties don't change

The office holder remains the controller. Personal data must be protected, costs disclosed under SIP 9, and the process documented for the file.

Key takeaways
  • Archives can outvalue physical assets.
  • Preservation in the first weeks is critical.
  • Data protection duties apply throughout.

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