Company insolvencies, February 2026
Monthly tables and commentary on the numbers, rates and sectors of companies that have entered formal insolvency procedures in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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The number of registered company insolvencies in England and Wales was 1,878 in February 2026, 7% higher than in January 2026 (1,749), but 7% lower than the same month in the previous year (2,015 in February 2025). Monthly numbers of company insolvencies at the end of 2025 and the start of 2026 were lower than levels typically seen between 2022 and 2025.
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Company insolvencies in February 2026 consisted of 249 compulsory liquidations, 1,473 creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs), 146 administrations and 10 company voluntary arrangements (CVAs). There were no receivership appointments. The number of compulsory liquidations was lower than both February 2025 and the 2025 monthly average. The number of CVLs in February 2026 was higher than January 2026, but lower than the 2025 monthly average. Both administrations and CVAs were lower than in January 2026.
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One in 194 companies on the Companies House effective register (at a rate of 51.5 per 10,000 companies) entered insolvency between 1 March 2025 and 28 February 2026. This was a decrease from the 52.3 per 10,000 companies that entered insolvency in the 12 months ending 28 February 2025. Insolvency rates are calculated on a 12-month rolling basis as a proportion of the total number of companies on the effective register. The 12-month rolling rates show longer term trends and reduce the volatility associated with estimates based on single months.
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While the insolvency rate has increased since the lows seen in 2020 and 2021, it remains much lower than the peak of 113.1 per 10,000 companies seen during the 2008-09 recession. This is because the number of companies on the effective register has more than doubled over this period.