Some 393 companies were forced to wind up in February across England and Wales – the highest monthly number since September 2014, the Insolvency Service said.
Compulsory liquidation is when a firm is ordered to shutter by a court because it is unable to pay its debts.
Meanwhile, the number of overall companies closing down fell 7% compared to the same month last year, at 2,035.
That figure, however, includes firms that have chosen to shutter, rather than being forced to stop trading because of having run out of money.
There were 1,520 creditors’ voluntary liquidations, 115 administrations and seven company voluntary arrangements.
The numbers come ahead of a crunch moment for companies in April, when tax and minimum wage increases…
