A business linked with the struggling Metamorph Group has gone into liquidation, it was confirmed today, as the company’s former chief has made a surprise apparent return.

A notice in the London Gazette stated that Beaumont ABS Ltd appointed liquidators earlier this month, following agreement by the firm’s creditors.

The liquidation is being handled by Michael Sanders and Steven Illes of London insolvency firm MacIntyre Hudson LLP.

Beaumont ABS Ltd was part of the Manchester firm bpl Solicitors, which is part of the consolidator Metamorph Group. It was previously part of the US business LegalZoom but was acquired by Metamorph in April 2020. At the time it employed 129 staff.

Earlier this month the Gazette reported that Beaumont ABS Ltd was subject to a winding-up petition from estate agency Connells Limited, a creditor. That petition had been due to be heard this week at the business and property courts in Leeds.

According to Companies House, the sole remaining director is listed as Simon Goldhill (pictured), the strategy consultant and former commercial solicitor who created Metamorph Law.

goldhill

Simon Goldhill

Beaumont ABS Ltd's accounts for 2021/22 were supposed to be filed in June this year but are still overdue. The previous accounts, for the year ended 30 June 2020, showed that turnover had increased slightly to £9.5m and profit before tax had jumped to £11.9m from a loss of £2.2m. That turnaround was largely due to a waiver of loansworth £13.8m by the former parent group.

It was reported earlier this month by website RollOnFriday that Metamorph was due to put three of its firms into administration and rename itself. The company refused to comment on the report.

Meanwhile, the mystery about what is happening inside the company continues as it appears that executive chairman Tony Stockdale has returned as a director after less than three weeks away.

Stockdale’s departure as a director was filed with Companies House on 1 November and his appointment confirmed on 23 November. Stockdale is still listed as executive chairman on the Metamorph website. It is not clear why he left and then rejoined as director or indeed whether he ever left the company at all.

 

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