Reading company shut down over false filings investigation

Wiseman Press Ltd, registered at Waterside Drive in Reading, was among seven companies wound up by the High Court in Manchester on September 22, 2026.

The companies appeared unrelated on the Companies House public registry. However, the Insolvency Service worked with Companies House and found evidence connecting them.

Three of the companies were based in London, while the others were in Lancashire, Manchester and Reading. They were said to be involved in trades including the wholesale of fruits, vegetables, oil and gas, as well as property.

The seven firms were 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.

Investigators identified similar incorporation histories, company name changes and comparable business descriptions. They also found accounts filed at Companies House appeared to contain false or misleading auditor information.

Named audit firms denied carrying out audits for the companies. Several companies did not have a genuine presence at their registered office addresses.

Investigators could not confirm legitimate trading activity or identify who controlled some of the companies. The companies failed to co-operate with the investigation, preventing checks on their activities.

David Usher, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: "These seven companies have been successfully shut down, and my thanks go to Companies House for their assistance in providing key evidence for these cases."

He added: "This should send a clear message that companies cannot use false filings or misleading information to gain credibility and put other businesses at risk."

The order covered all seven companies and followed an investigation into their records, addresses, accounts and reported business activity. The companies did not co-operate, so investigators could not verify their operations or identify who controlled some companies at all.

Matt Pennell, Head of Intelligence at Companies House, said: "The company register is a vital source of information, and those who use it must be able to trust the records it contains. False or misleading filings can undermine that trust and cause real harm.

"Working closely with the Insolvency Service, Companies House helped uncover links between these companies and support action to shut them down in the public interest, protecting the integrity of the register and those who rely on it."