Serious Fraud Office carried out raids and made arrests amid investigation into Liverpool-based company
The Shankly Hotel,Victoria Street
An update has been provided into a major investigation into a once-prominent Liverpool property group. In February 2024, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) raided properties and made arrests as part of an investigation into the Liverpool-based Signature Group.
In a statement released at the time, the SFO confirmed that it had raided three properties in total – in Merseyside and Greater Manchester – and had made a total of four arrests as part of the investigation into the Signature Group, which it described “a business that attracted over a thousand UK and international investors in the redevelopment of iconic landmarks including Belfast’s Scottish Mutual Building and the Coal Exchange in Cardiff.”
In Liverpool, the company was behind high profile hotels including the Shankly and Dixie Dean hotels on Victoria Street.
The Signature Group operated for over seven years, buying up predominantly historic buildings within the UK for redevelopment into luxury hotels, residential apartments and office spaces.
The SFO statement from the time of the raids said: “Investors loaned money to Signature or purchased a hotel room, apartment or office space in one of the group’s properties, with promised returns on their investment of between 8% and 15%.
“The business collapsed into administration with losses of up to £140 million.”
Nick Ephgrave QPM, director of the Serious Fraud Office, added at the time: “The scheme offered attractive returns and used much-loved local landmarks to lure investors.
The Dixie Dean Hotel was another of the flagship properties developed by the Signature Group(Image: James Maloney/Liverpool Echo)
“We have people up and down the country left out of pocket, and buildings left derelict at the centre of our cities.
“Today’s arrests and searches will help us reconstruct exactly what happened.
“This is now an active criminal investigation.”
Signature Group, ran by husband and wife team Lawrence and Katie Kenwright, held a portfolio including Millennium House in Liverpool as well as a cruise liner that was marketed as a “flotel” to be moored off Canary Wharf in London and travel to Ibiza.
Shortly before news of the SFO raids, the ECHO reported that Signature Group bosses Lawrence and Katie Kenwright had both been declared bankrupt.
In February 2026, it will be two years since the SFO raids and arrests. With this in mind we asked if there is any update or progress with the major investigation.
A spokesperson for the Serious Fraud Office responded to say: “We continue to progress our investigation into Signature Group and will share further information when available”.