News

Freight forwarder Anglo Overseas has gone into administration, following a VAT fraud and a fall in freight volumes, which could leave up to 200 hauliers out of pocket. Administrator Vantis Business Recovery Services was called in on 16 January and, although parent Ziegler Group purchased seven of Anglo's 15 sites, hauliers have been labelled 'unsecured creditors' and may have to wait up to a year to see if they can collect any debts.

Nigel Strike, senior manager at Vantis, says: "We are  working with hauliers to see how we can resolve this." He says up to 200 haulage contractors may be affected while 70 of the firm's 210 staff have been made redundant. One owner-driver who did not want to be named tells CM he is owed approximately £84,000 for transporting 35 loads for Anglo.

"It has dumped debt without thinking of the consequences. We were trading one day and the next day I've had to re-mortgage my house and sell two trucks."

Glyn Mummery, a client partner at Vantis, says in a statement: "The company recently entered into a comprise agreement with HM Revenue & Customs regarding a VAT fraud, which, as it was acknowledged, was not the fault of the company or its staff. This, compounded with cashflow restrictions, has resulted in the withdrawal of group support."

In a company letter, Arthur Ziegler, chairman of Ziegler Group, states: "The exports from the UK are going backwards whereas, to balance the transports by lorry, the freight should be  maintained in both directions. With this reduction of volume, the trucks will not be full and the income will diminish."

Road Haulage Association area manager for the South East David Scott Smith says: "It's going to leave a big hole in the market. I suspect there will be a lot of owner-drivers suffering from this."