Tue, 29 Apr 2025 | ADMINISTRATION
Since our last update, the following businesses have been confirmed as having fallen into administration. All dates indicate when the administration was announced and not necessarily the dates on which administrators were appointed.
Air Service Training (Engineering) Limited – April 22
Air Service Training (Engineering) Limited, a Perth-based Aviation training provider, fell into administration earlier this month, with Shona Campbell of Henderson Loggie appointed as administrator.
The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of UHI Perth, was founded in 1931 and has provided training to more than 190,000 engineers and pilots. However, according to Campbell, the firm has faced “prolonged financial challenges”, ultimately resulting in it entering administration.
In accounts for the Year to July 31 2023, the company reported turnover of £1.9 million, level with the previous year, while seeing its post-tax profits increase slightly from £110,000 to £130,000.
At the time, its fixed assets were valued at around £181,000 and current assets at approximately £966,000 and net assets amounting to slightly over £450,000.
D.E.Plant Limited – April 23
D.E.Plant Limited, a highway maintenance plant hire firm based in Royston, fell into administration earlier this month, with Philip Dakin and Benjamin Wiles of Kroll Advisory appointed as joint administrators.
The company was a subsidiary of the Thriplow Group, with fellow group companies Thriplow Commercials Limited and Thriplow Sweepers Limited also being placed into administration on the same date.
In accounts for the year to June 30 2023, D.E.Plant Limited’s fixed assets were valued at £5.2 million and current assets at £2.8 million, with net assets amounting to around £2.7 million.
Censornet Limited – April 23
Censornet Limited, a Brentwood-based provider of cybersecurity solutions to mid-sized businesses, fell into administration earlier this month, with Glyn Mummery and Alastair Massey of FRP Advisory appointed as joint administrators.
In accounts for the year to December 31 2023, the company’s assets were valued at around £1.8 million. However, its net liabilities at the time amounted to more than £7.6 million.
Blackthorn Finance Limited – April 23
Blackthorn Finance Limited, an FCA-authorised payment services provider, entered special administration in mid-April, with Adam Stephens, Philip Hemming and Kevin Ley of S&W Partners appointed joint special administrators.
In November 2023, the FCA imposed restrictions on Blackthorn’s activities, as well as an asset requirement, prior to the firm entering Members Voluntary Liquidation in August 2024.
Liquidators recently decided that the company did not have sufficient assets to satisfy the claims being made by creditors, resulting in an order being granted to place the company into special administration.
In accounts for the period from July 1 2021 to December 31 2022, the company reported turnover of £3.4 million, but fell to a loss of approximately £127,000.
At the time, the company’s fixed assets were valued at around £890,000 and current assets at approximately £1.6 million, with total assets amounting to £1.1 million.
Coventry International Pressing Company Limited – April 24
Coventry International Pressing Company Limited, a Coventry-based manufacturer of aluminium products, fell into administration earlier this month, with Simon Farr and Martyn Rickels of FRP Advisory appointed as joint administrators.
In accounts for the year to December 31 2022, the company’s fixed assets were valued at approximately £1.5 million and current assets at £231,000. However, significant debts meant that its net liabilities totalled around £6.1 million.
Ralph & Russo Ventures Limited – April 24
Ralph & Russo Ventures Limited, a high-end couture design house based in West London, fell into administration earlier this month, with Matthew Haw and Gordon Thomson of RSM UK Restructuring appointed as joint administrators.
The company previously fell into administration in March 2021 as it struggled to handle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the fashion industry. A protracted administration process ultimately resulted in a £3.5 million sale to American investors Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr through their vehicle Retail Ecommerce Ventures – later renamed Ralph & Russo Ventures Limited.
Despite the rescue deal, the company has failed to turn its fortunes around, resulting in it entering administration for a second time earlier this month.
In accounts for the year to December 31 2022, the company’s fixed assets were valued at around £12.8 million and current assets at £11.5 million. Net liabilities at the time, however, exceeded £4 million.
Spanwall Facades Limited – April 25
Spanwall Facades Limited, a Belfast-based manufacturer of architectural wall cladding and building facades, fell into administration earlier this month, with Stuart Irwin and Ian Leonard of Interpath Advisory appointed as joint administrators.
In accounts for the year to December 31 2023, the company’s fixed assets were valued at slightly over £470,000 and current assets at £3.1 million, with total equity amounting to approximately £1.1 million.
Seventy Ninth Group subsidiaries – April 28 - 29
Several subsidiaries of Merseyside-based asset management company Seventy Ninth Group fell into administration last week, amid an ongoing police investigation into the group.
Jeremy Woodside and Tracey Pye of Quantuma Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of Seventy Ninth UK Limited, 79th Luxury Living One Limited, 79th Leisure Two Management Limited and 79th Leisure Two Development Limited on April 23, followed by The 79th Grp Limited, Seventy Ninth Aviation Limited and 79th Luxury Living Limited on April 24.
The Southport-based group is under investigation by City of London Police as part of an inquiry centred on a "suspected widespread fraud case" in which investors were offered high returns on their loans.
Four people have been arrested as part of Operation Mold, with cash and luxury watches seized during raids. Along with its real estate and wealth management operations, the group also has leisure sites and mining operations in Canada and Guinea.
In accounts for the year to December 31 2023, Seventy Ninth UK Limited had current assets valued at around £20 million and total equity of approximately £1.1 million.
SSH Conservation Limited – April 28
SSH Conservation Limited, a Somerset-based business that undertakes repair and conservation work on historic buildings, fell into administration last week, with Glyn Mummery and Emma Priest of FRP Advisory appointed as joint administrators.
In accounts for the year to March 31 2024, the company’s assets were valued at around £1.8 million, with total equity amounting to around £100,000.
Biscuiteer Baking Company Limited – April 28
Biscuiteer Baking Company Limited, a London-based manufacturer of biscuits, rusks and preserved pastries and cakes, fell into administration last week, with William Wright and Christopher Pole of Interpath appointed as joint administrators.
In accounts for the year to April 30 2024, the company reported turnover of £11.1 million, up from £10.4 million a year earlier, but saw its post-tax losses widen from around £381,000 to nearly £1.1 million.
Despite strong revenue growth, directors said that the company was negatively affected by rising labour costs, higher marketing costs, reduced consumer demands and increasing administrative costs.
At the time, the firm’s fixed assets were valued at £1.9 million and current assets at close to £1.2 million. However, its net liabilities at the time stood at just short of £190,000.
Big Box Intralogistics Limited – April 29
Big Box Intralogistics Limited, an East Yorkshire-based intralogistics solutions provider for warehouses, fell into administration last week, with Sean Williams and Phil Deyes of Leonard Curtis appointed as joint administrators.
In accounts for the year to April 30 2024, the company’s fixed assets were valued at slightly over £112,000 and current assets at approximately £1.4 million, with net assets amounting to close to £152,000.
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