Seven companies wound up following joint Insolvency Service and Companies House investigation

Seven companies operating across England have been wound up in the public interest following a joint investigation by the Insolvency Service and Companies House that uncovered connections between the businesses, questionable financial filings and concerns over their trading activities. The Official Receiver was appointed liquidator.

The High Court in Manchester made winding-up orders against Attic Asset Ltd, Kevin Steven Fryer Ltd, Quality Imports & Exports Limited, Nigel Jones & Paul Bowden Ltd, Farm Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Ltd, Wiseman Press Ltd and Christopher Sherwood Limited on 22 September 2026.

The seven companies, registered in Lancashire, London, Manchester and Reading, purported to operate in various sectors, including fruit and vegetable wholesaling, oil and gas and property. Although they appeared unrelated on the public register, investigators identified connections through similar incorporation histories, changes of company names and comparable descriptions of their business activities.

The investigation uncovered accounts filed at Companies House containing apparently false or misleading auditor information, with several audit firms denying that they had carried out the audits attributed to them. Investigators also found that some companies lacked a genuine presence at their registered office addresses and were unable to establish whether legitimate trading activities had taken place or identify the individuals exercising control over certain businesses.

The companies failed to cooperate with the investigation, preventing authorities from verifying their operations and financial affairs. The Insolvency Service subsequently secured winding-up orders against all seven companies on public interest grounds. Lyndsey Burgess, the Official Receiver, is the liquidator.

Matt Pennell, Head of Intelligence at Companies House, said the investigation underscored the importance of maintaining the integrity of the corporate register, warning that inaccurate filings could undermine confidence in information relied upon by businesses and the public.