What can the Investigations and Enforcement Service investigate?
Note - the following information refers to investigations into companies which have entered into formal insolvency proceedings including administration, administrative receivership and voluntary liquidation in England, Wales and Scotland. For information on investigations into companies that are actively trading, or which have ceased trading without entering into insolvency proceedings using powers under the Companies Acts click here.
We can investigate companies which have entered into formal insolvency proceedings e.g. administration, administrative receivership and voluntary liquidation in England, Wales and Scotland. It is the insolvency practitioner who has been appointed in these proceedings who is initially responsible for dealing with any complaints. They then have a duty to report to the Secretary of State under the Company Director Disqualification Act 1986.
Note – Complaints against companies in compulsory liquidation are dealt with by the official receiver who will report any matters of concern to the Secretary of State. We can investigate directors and undischarged bankrupts (in England and Wales) who breach the terms of disqualification orders/undertakings, of bankruptcy orders, bankruptcy restrictions orders/undertakings, debt relief restrictions orders/undertakings and directors who re-use prohibited names.
We can also exercise powers to investigate companies under the Companies Acts. For information on investigations into live companies or companies which have ceased trading without entering into insolvency proceedings visit our pages on Company Investigations.
