Closed, closing or insolvent
Closing a Canadian company? Your records may still have a buyer
Short answer: Yes, some AI data buyers, including Turing, Ooak Data and Appen, accept companies that are winding down or already closed. In Canada, who can sell depends on the situation. In a bankruptcy, a licensed insolvency trustee generally controls company property. Solvent wind-downs need board approval. Privacy law and record-retention duties still apply.
Several buyers accept companies that are winding down or already closed. The order of operations matters: approvals, retention and exports come before anything is cancelled.
Last updated · Sources linked inline · Buyer figures observed Oct 16, 2026
Which AI buyers accept closed or winding-down companies?
| Buyer | What they publish | Who they say qualifies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turing (Project Lazarus) | A single payment of up to $1M, confirmed after sampling (usually within a week). As published · verify | Operating, winding-down or closed companies. Wants communications, tickets, wikis and databases; code alone doesn't qualify. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
| Ooak Data | Up to $1M; closed deals so far from $20K to several hundred thousand dollars. As published · verify | Operating, winding-down and closed companies; pays the company entity. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
| Appen | Quoted per partnership; no amounts published; paid on acceptance. As published · verify | Companies; those winding down get a faster path. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
| The General Data Company | A one-off price or a share of licensing revenue; no amounts published. As published · verify | Industrial companies' records, including technical drawings and CAD models; companies no longer trading accepted. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
Amounts are each buyer's own published ranges, ceilings or tiers, not offers, and they change. Most buyers are US companies and don't always state a currency, so confirm it in writing. Buyer names describe their public programs only. How the process works.
Who can approve selling a closed company's data in Canada?
- Bankruptcy (BIA). On bankruptcy, the company's property generally vests in the licensed insolvency trustee, who controls any sale or licence.
- CCAA and proposals. Asset sales outside the ordinary course usually need court or creditor approval. Speak to the monitor or your trustee before approaching buyers.
- Solvent wind-downs. Get written board approval and check secured lender terms.
- Privacy. Customer and employee personal information is still regulated after the business stops trading. Scope it out or handle it under the buyer agreement.
- Record retention. Tax and corporate record-keeping obligations continue; licensing a copy doesn't replace them.
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act · Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act · OPC: privacy laws in Canada
Before you cancel anything
- Make a list of every system that holds records
- Check each vendor's data-retention window after cancellation
- Export or preserve under counsel's direction
- Then decide what, if anything, to license
For trustees and receivers: we're happy to brief you on published buyer programs at no cost to the estate. Send us an inquiry.
What do closing companies ask?
Can a bankrupt company's data be sold?
We're winding down voluntarily. What should we do first?
Do we still need to keep records for the CRA?
Could your records still be licensed?
Three answers give you a rough range based on what buyers publish. Add your details if you want us to follow up. There's no cost to start.