harder with huge debts to hauliers is hit by arson
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E by Karen Miles
A freight forwarder which collapsed owing millions of pounds to hauliers was the victim of a suspected arson attack over the weekend. A spokesman for Sheerness-based Tacisawhich owes one haulier some £500,000— confirms that part of its offices were set alight. So far no arrests have been made.
The company, which specialised in moving motor parts and stationery, went into administrative receivership on 2 April with debts believed to be up to £2m. Former Tacisa staff are trying to keep the Sheerness and Milton Keynes-based business going after its goodwill was sold to Spanish freight forwarder SLI on 3 April.
Major creditors include: • A Greater London haulier, owed £500,000; • Sheerness-based OW Weed, owed £56,000; • Gillingham, Kent-based Delahays Transport Services, owed £69.000; • Slough, Berks-based Southern Express Freight, owed £30,000; • A Lancashire haulier, owed £12,000.
RW Wood has instructed its solicitors to investigate the collapse: it is holding onto 100 pallets of goods in lieu of payment. Southern Express Freight is also holding 15 consignments.
Receiver Graham Bushby from Baker Tilly is "hopeful there might be something left over for unsecured creditors". He says the quick sale to SLI was necessary because of the "fast-moving nature" of the freight forwarding business. Bushby is also appealing for information: "We are asking anyone who has anything to say about what happened to contact us."
As CM went to press no date had been fixed for a creditors' meeting.
Creditors are likely to be told that Tacisa's receivership was a "regular business failure" with creditors adding pressure by issuing winding up petitions. Tacisa, which has a Spanish joint managing director, Carlos Pascual, had a £6.5m turnover. It arranged transport for clients such as Spanish stationery company Tompla and Delphi Steering Systems.
Ron Wood, owner of RW Haulage, has been forced to put his £50,000 retirement fund into his company. "I pay my bills and I trusted these people but they have hurt me," he says. "They seemed to be such a trustworthy company and I fell for it—and so did a lot of ethers."
• Contact Graham Bushby on 01908 687800.