Suits You Administration is a Sign of Things to Come

British clothing retailer Suits You has collapsed into administration just eight months after entering a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which aimed to save the Leeds-based business. Administrators Zolfo Cooper said they would wind down loss-making stores, but support the chain’s successful branches and sell as much of the business and assets as possible. The firm’s…

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Is the Activroll Case Another Example of HMRC Abusing Their Powers?

It appears that a successful Scotland-based payroll company, which describes itself as one of the country’s fastest growing businesses, has become the latest victim of HMRC’s aggressive collection procedures. Last month, bosses at Activroll, which employs around 100 staff and has offices in the US and Australia, were shocked to discover a public notice in…

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Small Businesses Dependent on Public Sector Bank On Xmas Boost for Survival in 2011

An analysis of the government’s recent spending review suggests that George Osborne’s attempts to reduce the UK’s budget deficit of £155 billion will have a devastating impact on smaller suppliers dependent on public sector contracts. According to Andrew Burn of accountancy firm KPMG: ‘For smaller businesses the overall impact is likely to be negative, leading…

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Liverpool FC Still on Rocky Ground Despite Buyout

Fans celebrating the takeover of Liverpool should be concerned that new owner John W Henry never offered a written guarantee promising not to load the football club with debt. Before the buyout, Henry and his 16 partners in New England Sports Ventures (NESV) made verbal commitments agreeing to pay £200m owed to Royal Bank of…

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A Winding UP Petition Doesn’t Have to Signal the End of Your Business

The vast majority of winding up petitions heard in British courts over the past 12 months were presented by HMRC and usually relate to VAT, PAYE arrears or failure of a Time to Pay arrangement. However, receiving a winding up petition from HMRC doesn’t necessarily signal the end of your business. Usually, petitions are preceded…

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