Creditors owed millions by failed YM firms

YM Group's accounts should be filed tomorrow
YM Group's accounts should be filed tomorrow

YM Group owed Pricoa £51m when its three web offset businesses collapsed into administration in March, and while YM’s directors are yet to provide a statement of affairs the initial estimates from administrators at FRP Advisory state that unsecured creditors – including huge inter-company sums – are owed more than £61m.

FRP Advisory has granted YM directors an extension to 31 May to “allow for the directors to bring the company’s accounting records up to date”. 

The accounts for holding company YM Group and Lettershop, neither of which are in administration, are also supposed to be filed tomorrow. 

Pricoa has debentures over the company’s assets, but the administrators said they were seeking legal advice as to whether the security gives Pricoa fixed or floating charge security. 

“Regardless of the state of the security, it is anticipated that Pricoa will suffer a significant shortfall in respect of their lending to the group,” FRP stated, and has put the likely return for the investor at 1%-2%.

The first administration reports relate to Pindar (Scarborough), YM Chantry and York Mailing. 

The sites struggled with cashflow and ultimately ran out of road, despite YM Group receiving additional funding of £1m in January, and then a further £3.5m in February.

YM had also attempted to raise “substantial capital” by refinancing its plant and machinery using the Recovery Loan Scheme, “however this was not successful”.

Explaining the background, FRP referenced the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on demand at the businesses.

“In addition to the continued uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, the company also suffered operational inefficiencies related to labour, supply chain issues and costs of undertaking new contracts.”

A fast track sale process stalled when a potential deal with Walstead fell through.

The reports also detail that outstanding pay, holiday pay, and pension arrears will be the subject of claims to the taxpayer-funded Redundancy Payments Service. HMRC is also expected to make a claim totalling £600,000. 

Unsecured creditors are only likely to receive any payment via the so-called 'prescribed part', “if funds allow”.

Industry watchers have been left aghast at the scale of the collapse. 

One print boss commented: “So it seems that Pricoa are owed £51m and will receive £2.4m, after having injected £4.5m only a few months before!

“This show how negligent they have been in understanding the financial situation and/or how management possibly duped them.”


Pindar Scarborough

According to the management accounts, Pindar had sales of £41.46m in the year to 31 May 2021 (2020: £47.67m), and made an operating loss of £121,000 (2020 operating profit: £613,000).

The total amount owed to unsecured creditors is £22.53m according to the FRP report.

Pindar Scarborough has unpaid pension contributions of £20,087, and employee arrears for pay and holiday of £316,279 that will have to be settled by the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS).  

Walstead paid £2.1m for the Pindar plant and machinery it acquired. 

Paper stocks were sold for £36,579. 

Pindar Scarborough largest creditors

York Mailing £15.4m
Scarborough Borough Council £555,585
E.on UK  £531,324
YM Chantry  £352,870
Sappi Papier £341,485
Henkel £219,011
HMRC (estimate) £200,000
Schuite & Schuite Druckfarben £169,204
Valleycrown  £157,536
Celloglas  £156,990
David Samuel Management £151,410
Draefern t/a GI Group* £148,763
Perlen Papier £123,557
Lecta Paper UK £109,604

Source: FRP Advisory
*GI Group provides staffing solutions and is not connected to Go Inspire Group


YM Chantry

Wakefield-based YM Chantry had turnover of £20.2m (2020: £26.78m) in the year to 31 May 2021 based on the management accounts, and made an operating loss of £2.6m (2020:operating loss £1.9m).

Unsecured creditors total £28.77m, according to the report. 

Preferential claims of £197,000 are envisaged for pay and holiday arrears, and there are unpaid pension contributions of £33,000.

These claims, up to statutory limits, will be dealt with by the RPS.

Walstead paid £250,000 for the Chantry equipment it acquired at the beginning of the month, plus £105,000 for stock and raw materials.

YM Chantry largest creditors

YM Group £14.1m
Melwake £5.39m
York Mailing £1.99m
Pindar Scarborough £1.59m
The Lettershop Group £830,507
E.on Energy £668,019
Regency Real Estate £256,518
HMRC (estimate) £200,000
Hammond Packaging & Logistics £96,895
UPM £72,569

Source: FRP Advisory


York Mailing 

Again, based on management accounts York Mailing had sales of £19.9m (2020: £26.1m) in the year 31 May 2021, and made an operating profit of £1.27m (2020: £2m). 

Unsecured creditors are owed £9.74m. 

Preferential claims of £177,914 are expected regarding employees’ pay and holiday pay arrears. 

Walstead paid £1.55m for the York Mailing plant and machinery, plus £150,000 for stock including raw materials, unfinished work in progress, and packaging material.

The creditors’ list also confirms that Showcase Pallets, which blockaded the Elvington site in March in a desperate attempt to receive payment, is owed £56,064.

York Mailing largest creditors

York Mailing (Holdings)                        £5.8m
Sappi Papier Holding £459,444
E.on Energy £414,668
Coface Finanz £235,534
HMRC (estimate) £200,000
The Lettershop Group £164,646
UPM £164,050
Sun Chemical £138,645
Deerhurst Securities £121,500
Stora Enso UK £96,375
Palm Paper £91,857
Antalis £85,193
Henkel £79,351

Source: FRP Advisory