Why data can matter before it disappears
Years of systems history — how work was done, documented procedures, project and support records — can be commercially interesting to AI data programmes even when the trading business has stopped. Treating that material as a possible intangible asset is a commercial judgement for the office-holder, alongside the usual realisation duties. It is not automatic, and it is not appropriate in every estate.
micro1 describes a Defunct Company Data Partnership for companies that are no longer operating on its company referral page. That page does not use the words “dissolved” or “insolvent”; we follow their published wording.
Authority and timing first
Before any commercial chat goes deep:
- confirm who has authority to deal with the records under the appointment;
- note the stage you are at and any timing pressures (for example access to systems before they are switched off);
- keep first contact high-level — systems and history in outline, not raw exports.
We start from the appointment. No shortcuts. More on how we work with office-holders: For insolvency practitioners.
GDPR / ICO considerations (pointers, not advice)
Estate records often include personal data. Where they do, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 still apply. Practical themes office-holders and their advisers commonly work through include:
- Lawful basis and purpose — why any further use or disclosure would happen. See the ICO’s guide to lawful basis.
- Transparency — what people were told about use and sharing. See the ICO on privacy information.
- Minimisation — sharing as little personal data as possible; de-identification where appropriate.
- Accountability — being able to show the reasoning (a DPIA can be wise for higher-risk projects).
A plain public overview also sits on gov.uk data protection. We are not your legal advisers; take advice that fits the estate.
What micro1 publishes for Defunct (verified)
- Criteria card: 30+ employees; “10+ Countries”; English. We do not invent what “10+ Countries” means for a single UK estate — point to the live card.
- Approved Defunct outreach line we use: micro1’s published criteria include companies with 30+ full-time employees and primarily English-language data; the full, current criteria are on micro1’s page.
- Company compensation: $100K–$2M+ for approved packages — not a valuation of the estate, not guaranteed.
- Referral reward (paid to introducers, not billed to the estate for this pathway): $75,000 on deals up to $1 million, or 7.5% above that, after transfer and approval on micro1’s published FAQ.
Sources: company referral. Related figures: The money.
FAQ
Do you charge the estate?
Not for this introduction pathway. micro1 may pay us a commission. Details: How we are paid.
Should we send data samples in the first email?
Please don’t. High-level descriptions only until authority and privacy questions are clear. See data safety.
Is every estate a fit?
No. Scale, language, access, timing and micro1’s own review all matter. Many appointments will not proceed, and that can still be a useful early answer.
Enterprise or Defunct?
Trading businesses usually map to Enterprise; companies that are no longer operating map to Defunct on micro1’s wording. See Enterprise vs Defunct explained.
Next step
Use the short form or email with appointment stage, sector, approximate peak headcount, main systems, and timing pressures. We’ll help sense-check fit. If you proceed, register via our referral link so attribution is correct. micro1 decides acceptance and any offer.