Out of curiosity, what kind of documents are those typically? Surely UK businesses don't need to keep financial records for 40+ years (or however long it's been since floppies were common)?
replyDetails of acquisition of assets which may incur tax or legal treatment on disposal?
replyOngoing contracts (e.g. life insurance policies may last 40+ years). I did work for an insurance company once, and they had active policies started prior to 1940. There were electronic documents which dated back 30+ years.
While completed transactions may only need records for a few years, ongoing assets and contracts need documentation held for much longer.
Legal matters often have decades long histories. Especially things like deceased estates.
replyJarndyce v. Jarndyce in fiction, and many others in reality, such as the UK PPI scandal, the Maxwell pensioners, and (US) all the malpractice cases like Vioxx and asbestos...
replyI don't know, I don't speak solicitor and I don't care to read them.
replyProbably stuff to do with property ownership.
Last PC I saw in daily use with floppies in daily use was about five years ago.