Seven companies that appeared to have nothing to do with each other have been wound up after investigators found they were connected, according to the Insolvency Service. The firms were struck off in the public interest at the High Court in Manchester on 22 September 2026.

Key points

  • Seven companies wound up — at the High Court in Manchester on 22 September 2026.
  • False audit claims — accounts named audit firms that say they never worked for the companies.
  • No genuine trading — several had no real presence at their registered addresses and failed to co-operate.

The firms were based in London, Lancashire, Manchester and Reading. Their public records showed no obvious links, but investigators found shared incorporation dates, name changes and similar business descriptions. Filings at Companies House contained audit information that appeared to be false or misleading, and the audit firms named in the accounts denied carrying out any work for them.

Several of the companies had no genuine presence at their registered office addresses. Investigators could not confirm legitimate trading or work out who was really in charge of some of them, and the companies did not co-operate with the inquiry.

"This should send a clear message that companies cannot use false filings or misleading information to gain credibility and put other businesses at risk," said David Usher, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service.

Matt Pennell, Head of Intelligence at Companies House, said the register must be reliable and that misleading entries can undermine trust and cause real harm.

Editor's comment

What it means in practice

This case is a reminder that the public register is only as good as the information filed on it. If you run a business, check the records of firms you plan to work with before signing anything, especially if they are new or have changed names recently.

  • Check before you trade — look up company numbers, addresses and filing history on Companies House.
  • Watch for audit claims — if an audit is mentioned, the named firm should confirm it.
  • Report concerns — you can complain to the Insolvency Service about financial misconduct.