UK company insolvencies hit a 30-year high. Their data is still worth something.
In 2023, 25,158 companies went insolvent in England and Wales, the most since 1993, and almost none of their email archives were treated as assets.
Where the value sits
Most are creditors' voluntary liquidations of small firms. But a minority had 25 or more staff and years of email, chat and tickets, which is the profile buyers want.
Why it's usually lost
- Software licences lapse and servers are wiped within weeks.
- Office holders focus on tangible assets.
- Few know the data could be licensed safely.
Office holders: see how estate data realisation works.
- Insolvencies remain near record levels.
- Larger estates hold licensable records.
- Speed matters: preserve before systems go dark.
- The Insolvency Service: Company insolvency statistics (annual)
What could your company's records earn?
A free, nine-question estimate. No files, no logins.
More in Insolvency
A bankrupt airline's records and a $10m bid: what it means
Spirit Airlines' archive attracted a reported $10m bid in its bankruptcy, subject to court approval. The lessons for UK estates.
Liquidators: data is an asset, so treat it like one
A practical checklist for office holders: preserve, assess, de-identify and realise, while keeping the file clean.
Why a failed company's emails may be its last valuable asset
Stock and equipment sell for pennies. A well-preserved archive can raise real money for creditors, if it's handled right.