UK administrations update: November 27 – December 3

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.

DMA Media Limited – November 27
DMA Media Limited, a media and news media consultancy based in London, fell into administration last month, with Andrew Hook and Julie Palmer of Begbies Traynor appointed as joint administrators.

In accounts for the year to December 31 2023, the company reported turnover of £1.6 million, up from around £647,000 a year earlier, and a post-tax profit of approximately £272,000, up from a £266,000 loss the year prior.
At the time, its fixed assets were valued at £188,352 and current assets at around £5.9 million, with net assets amounting to £2.5 million.

David Brown Automotive Limited – November 27
David Brown Automotive Limited, a coachbuilder based in Towcester, fell into administration last week, with Mark Bowen of MB Insolvency appointed as administrator.

In accounts for the year to October 31 2022, the company’s fixed assets were valued at close to £566,000 and current assets at around £1.8 million. However, its net liabilities at the time totalled more than £2.1 million.

Casper & Cole Limited – November 28
Casper & Cole Limited, which trades as the Temper barbeque restaurant chain, fell into administration in November, with Andrew Andronikou and Brian Burke of Quantuma Advisory appointed as joint administrators.

In accounts for the year to February 26 2023, the company reported turnover of £8.7 million, up from £6.3 million a year earlier, but reported a £3.6 million post-tax loss for the second year in a row.

At the time, its fixed assets were valued at £4.5 million and current assets at £2.8 million, with net assets amounting to £3.8 million.

According to a recent report, 12 per cent of UK restaurants are at risk of insolvency

Transform Healthcare Limited – November 28
Transform Healthcare Limited, a healthcare company that trades as Transforming Lives, Electiva and Identite, fell into administration last week, with Howard Smith and Richard Harrison of Interpath Advisory appointed as joint administrators.

In the company’s accounts for the year to March 31 2023, its fixed assets were valued at around £246,000 and current assets at close to £2.7 million. However, its net liabilities at the time totalled £5.2 million.

JLM Global Foods Limited – November 29
JLM Global Foods Limited, a snack food manufacturer based in Darlington, fell into administration last week, appointing Paul Ellison and Christopher Errington of KRE Corporate Recovery as joint administrators.

In accounts for the year to January 31 2022, the company reported turnover of £11.4 million, roughly level with around £11.6 million a year earlier, but fell from an operating profit of nearly £90,000 to an operating loss of close to £65,000.

At the time, the company’s fixed assets were valued at £1.6 million and current assets at £3.8 million, with total equity standing at approximately £2.2 million.

Find out more about food and beverage M&A

Hickory (Scotland) Limited – November 29
Hickory (Scotland) Limited, a catering and events management company based in Musselburgh, fell into administration in November, with Mark Harper and Charles Turner of Opus Restructuring appointed as joint administrators.

In accounts for the year to December 31 2023, the company’s fixed assets were valued at slightly over £1 million and current assets at approximately £3 million. However, debts meant that its net assets stood at just £372,526.

Craigie’s Farm Limited – December 2
Craigie’s Farm Limited, a farm village near Edinburgh featuring a deli, cafe, shop and park, fell into administration last week, appointing James Dewar and Alistair McAlinden of Interpath as joint administrators.

In accounts for the year to March 31 2023, the company’s fixed assets were valued at close to £3 million and current assets at approximately £229,160. However, its liabilities at the time totalled slightly over £50,000.

Caledonian Logistics Limited – December 3
Caledonian Logistics Limited, a logistics, storage and distribution company based in Aberdeen, fell into administration at the end of November, with Donald McNaught and Graeme Bain of Johnston Carmichael appointed as joint administrators.

The company was acquired for an undisclosed sum in October 2022 by Drac Logistics, as part of the Staffordshire-based group’s expansion into Scotland, in a deal that was triggered by Caledonian owner Derek Mitchell’s decision to retire.

Caledonian Logistics last filed accounts covering the year ending April 30 2022, prior to its acquisition by Drac Logistics. In that period, it reported turnover of £15.2 million, up from roughly £14 million a year earlier, but fell from a post-tax profit of £133,155 to a loss of nearly £795,000.

At the time, its fixed assets were valued at around £3 million and current assets at £2.6 million, with net assets amounting to £206,433.


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