Deals, bids, programmes and UK rules, each with its source. Updated weekly.
Last updated 14 October 2026
October 2026
Spirit Airlines data sale hearing moves to 6 November
The US bankruptcy court hearing to approve the sale of Spirit Airlines' corporate records is now set for 6 November 2026. Google won the August auction with a $10m bid, with Mercor as back-up bidder at $7.5m.
Closed startups' records now feature in nearly half of SimpleClosure's deals
SimpleClosure, which helps US startups shut down, has handled more than 150 deals since adding data sales in April, and 47% of its deals now include code or data sales, MIT Technology Review reports.
Mode launches a programme to license businesses' records to AI companies
Mode.Inc announced BizBuyData.com, a data licensing programme for businesses and nonprofits with at least 20 full-time US office employees (10 for accounting firms, six for law firms). It says payment varies with the amount and type of data and is expected within about 60 days.
micro1 commits $1bn to buying and licensing company data
AI training company micro1 will spend $1bn over the next 12 months buying and licensing operational data from companies, with Citi and Hercules Capital providing the capital.
119 US lawmakers ask Google and Spirit to pause the sale of employee data
Lawmakers asked for employee records to stay out of the Spirit Airlines data sale until safeguards are in place, citing medical information, disciplinary files and pay.
September 2026
1,946 company insolvencies in England and Wales in August 2026
The seasonally adjusted total was 3% lower than in August 2025. Administrations rose to 182, up 60% on a year earlier.
micro1 offers $12.5m for Spirit Airlines' records after Google's winning bid
After Google's $10m bid won the August auction, micro1 proposed paying $12.5m for the same records. Fortune reported that the proposal was unsigned and that no sale had been approved.
Less common code can fetch top dollar from AI labs
SimpleClosure's data shows that code in less common languages, such as Ruby or C++, can fetch top dollar, and that context from tools such as Jira, Linear or Figma adds value.
August 2026
Google wins the auction for Spirit Airlines' records with a $10m bid
Google won the auction for the bankrupt airline's internal records with a $10m bid, and Mercor was named back-up buyer at $7.5m. The judge was then scheduled to consider the sale.
June 2026
60% of insolvent businesses in 2025 had fewer than 5 employees
There were 22,455 business insolvencies in England and Wales in 2025. 13,380 had 0 to 4 employees, and the 20 to 49 employee band had the highest insolvency rate.
April 2026
Shut-down startups were typically paid $10,000 to $100,000 for their data
SimpleClosure had processed nearly 100 deals for shut-down companies in the past year, typically paying $10,000 to $100,000 per company, Forbes reported.
SimpleClosure launches AssetHub for startups' code and workspace data
AssetHub helps founders who are winding down sell or license source code, workspace data and other assets to buyers including AI labs.
March 2026
ICO updates its guidance on purpose limitation and reusing personal data
The updated guidance reflects the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, including the new compatibility factors in Article 8A of UK GDPR for using personal data for a new purpose.
February 2026
Most data protection changes in the Data (Use and Access) Act come into force
The main changes to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 made by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 took effect on 5 February 2026.
January 2026
23,938 company insolvencies in England and Wales in 2025
The Insolvency Service's annual figures show 18,525 creditors' voluntary liquidations, 3,730 compulsory liquidations and 1,495 administrations in 2025.