Winding-Up Petition Filed Against Searce Limited
A winding-up petition has been presented against Searce Limited (company number 11441867) at the High Court of Justice. Public court records from the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions confirm that the petition was registered on 5 October 2026 under reference CR-2026-007571.
Presentation of a winding-up petition represents the initial legal step taken by a creditor seeking to compel payment or initiate compulsory liquidation. It is an allegation of debt and court filing; it is not a judicial determination of insolvency or an order to wind up the business.
Petition details
The details recorded on the HMCTS CE-File system are as follows:
| Record Field | Information Recorded |
| --- | --- |
| Company Name | Searce Limited |
| Company Number | 11441867 |
| Court Reference | CR-2026-007571 |
| Filing Date | 5 October 2026 |
| Case Type | Companies - Petition - Winding Up Petition |
| Filing Registry | Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions |
| Petitioning Creditor | [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
| Petition Amount | [Check the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
Company snapshot
Companies House records indicate that Searce Limited was incorporated on 2 July 2018 as a private limited company. The business operates under four Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes:
- 62012: Business software development
- 62020: Information technology consultancy activities
- 63120: Web portals
- 63990: Other information service activities n.e.c.
The company's registered office address is 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ. Specific financial metrics, accounting filings, and going-concern notes were not stated in the published source.
Directors and ownership
The statutory filings at Companies House disclose the following historical and active management details for Searce Limited.
Current officers
- Mr Samir Arvindkumar Dadia: Appointed as director on 29 July 2026. Indian national, resident in India, born January 1963.
- Ms Sunita Shah: Appointed as director on 1 April 2026. British national, resident in England, born May 1968.
Past officers
- Mr Roman Sorocan: Appointed as director on 1 February 2023; resigned on 1 April 2026.
- Mr Julian Peter Mulhare: Appointed as director on 1 February 2023; resigned on 19 December 2025.
- Mr Hardik Parekh: Appointed as director on 2 July 2018; resigned on 1 February 2023.
- 1ST SECRETARIES LIMITED: Appointed as corporate secretary on 2 June 2020; resigned on 1 March 2024.
Persons with significant control
- Mr Hardik Parekh: Notified as a Person with Significant Control (PSC) on 2 July 2018, recorded as holding significant influence or control.
- Searce Pte Ltd (company number 201413545d): Notified on 2 July 2018 as holding 75% to 100% of shares, voting rights, and the right to appoint or remove directors. The register records this control ceased on 20 March 2019.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
No formal notices concerning this petition have appeared in The Gazette as of the published date. Under rule 7.10 of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, a petitioner must wait seven business days following service before advertising the petition, unless directed otherwise by the court.
What this means for suppliers, creditors and counterparties
The presentation of a winding-up petition serves as an urgent risk indicator for commercial counterparties. Once a petition is presented, statutory consequences under Section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986 come into play.
Section 127 provides that any disposition of the company's property, including payments out of its bank accounts or transfers of assets, made after the petition presentation date is void in the event that a winding-up order is subsequently made, unless validated by the court.
Risk mitigation framework for credit managers
1. Verify exposure: Quantify outstanding invoices, unbilled work in progress, and contractual commitments.
2. Review terms: Check retention of title clauses, security interests, or set-off rights in existing contracts.
3. Assess payment flows: Consult legal counsel regarding the risk of receiving payments post-presentation that could later face clawback.
4. Monitor updates: Track court listings and gazette notices to determine whether the petition is advertised, dismissed, or listed for hearing on today's winding-up petitions list.
How to run a winding up petition search
When evaluating corporate counterparties, relying solely on annual Companies House filings can lead to significant blind spots because petitions are registered at court weeks before public accounting records reflect insolvency steps.
To conduct thorough due diligence, risk managers combine court cause-list checks with statutory register monitoring. Conducting a routine winding up petition search ensures early identification of litigation before bank account freezes interrupt operations. A regular winding up search allows risk teams to intercept credit exposure at the filing stage rather than after advertisement.
Setting up free company monitoring ensures automated alerts are triggered whenever court filings or officer resignations occur.
For credit teams and suppliers
Credit underwriters, finance directors, and commercial lawyers require real-time visibility over legal filings to prevent unexpected uncollectable debts. Failing to run a proper winding up search before extending terms or delivering high-value services can lead to clawback actions under Section 127. Integrating automated cause-list checks into onboarding workflows provides instant risk clarity before contract execution.
FAQ
What happens after a winding-up petition is filed?
After filing at the Central Registry, the petitioner serves the petition on the target company. The company may pay the debt, seek a validation order, defend the claim, or negotiate an adjournment before the court hearing.
Does a petition mean the company is insolvent?
No. A petition is a legal claim by a creditor alleging an unpaid debt exceeding £750. The court evaluates the evidence at a hearing to determine whether to grant a winding-up order, dismiss the petition, or adjourn the matter.
Why does bank account freezing occur?
Once banks become aware of a published petition, they typically freeze the company's accounts to protect themselves against liability under Section 127 of the Insolvency Act 1986 for unvalidated account dispositions.
How long does it take from filing to a court hearing?
A winding-up hearing is usually listed between four and ten weeks following the presentation of the petition, depending on court availability and service requirements.
This report summarises a petition recorded at the Central Registry of Winding-up Petitions. Presentation of a petition is not a determination of insolvency; the outcome is a matter for the court. Companies believing they are named incorrectly should email contact@corp-intel.co.uk.