A key figure in a scheme designed to undermine the insolvency system has been banned as a company director for nine years. Neville Taylor, 57, was paid more than £250,000 by Atherton Corporate (UK) Ltd to become the sole director of more than 400 companies. Taylor’s disqualification, based on his conduct as director of ta dozen companies, including six in West Yorkshire, means he will have to step down as director of at least 196 companies from his correspondence address of Bridge Street, in Kington in Herefordshire.  He will also no longer be able to act as director of more than 250 companies. Dave Magrath, Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services at the Insolvency Service, said:  “Neville Taylor hampered efforts by liquidators to identify assets, caused a widespread loss to creditors and breached his duties as a director to act in the best interest of the companies and creditors. “He also accepted that his conduct was part of a scheme designed to subvert and undermine insolvency legislation. “Taylor made inadequate attempts to identify and locate millions of pounds of assets, to obtain company records, or to make himself aware of the companies’ trading.  At the same time, he was paid by Atherton Corporate (UK) Ltd to enable this scheme. “By disqualifying Taylor, we are making it clear that we will not tolerate those who avoid their legal duties as directors or seek to enable phoenixism.” Taylor became sole director of the companies at various points between April 2022 and March 2023 after they had ceased trading but before they entered liquidation. Insolvency Service analysis of bank statements revealed Taylor was paid £266,914 by Atherton Corporate (UK) Ltd to perform this role. The companies had combined assets of £8,278,912 according to their final filed accounts. By the time the companies entered liquidation with Taylor at the helm, their estimated assets stood at only £676,169, a decrease of more than £7.6 million.

Mail Metrics, a customer communications technology provider serving financial and regulated industries, has acquired Adare SEC, a leader in multi-channel communication management. This strategic move accelerates Mail Metrics’ expansion into the UK market while solidifying its reputation as a trusted provider of digital and printed communication solutions. Mail Metrics has achieved remarkable growth in recent years, with revenue growing from €1 million in 2019 to a projected £175/€210 million proforma in 2024. The acquisition of Adare SEC, which operates from sites in Huddersfield, Leicester, and Glasgow, increases Mail Metrics’ workforce from 150 to 600 employees, and marks the company’s fourth acquisition in four years. As part of the deal, MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland has invested a substantial amount in Mail Metrics for a minority stake. The deal is also backed by Bank of Ireland and AIB. Nick Keegan, Group CEO UK & Ireland, Mail Metrics, said: “This is a landmark day for Mail Metrics as we welcome Adare SEC into our group. Tony Strong and his team have built an exceptional business with a stellar reputation in the market. “This acquisition is a natural step in our scaling journey, combining our strengths to deliver innovative and compliant communication solutions for our growing client base across the UK and Ireland. “I would like to extend my gratitude to our financial backers who have made this deal possible. MML Ireland, our new private equity partner, and our banking partners at Bank of Ireland and AIB have provided invaluable support throughout the process. “Their collective confidence in our vision and commitment to this acquisition has been instrumental in bringing us to this successful outcome. “Additionally, I would like to thank Clearwater, our corporate finance advisors, for their advice, and unwavering support throughout the entire process.” Chris Walsh, Investment Director at MML Ireland, said: “MML is delighted to back Nick and his team in this landmark acquisition. Mail Metrics has built a brilliant, customer-focused business underpinned by its own technology. “The deal brings together two of the leading providers of critical customer communications in the UK and Ireland and we look forward to working with the combined Mail Metrics and Adare SEC team to bring out the best of both businesses and to support them on their continued growth journey.” Tony Strong, CEO of Adare SEC, said: “This is a fantastic next chapter for the business and I greatly look forward to working with Nick and the team to ensure a seamless transition. “These are exciting times, and the future looks extremely bright. I want to echo Nick by also thanking our advisory teams EY and Pinsent Masons who have been invaluable during this process.” Adare SEC’s former Chairman, Peter De Haan, who has owned the company since 2000, will be retiring following the sale. He remarked: “We are immensely proud of all we have achieved under the Adare SEC banner, and we knew that the sale of the company had to be to a business with the same expertise, ambition and deep respect for the industry. “Mail Metrics is a perfect fit, and the growth to date of the business showcases the talent of Nick and the team. I want to thank Tony Strong and all Adare SEC colleagues across our Huddersfield, Leicester and Glasgow sites for their incredible work in driving the company forward, and I wish the new venture every success.” Jeremy Harrison, EY M&A Partner, said: “It was a pleasure acting for the shareholders and management of Adare SEC on this sale. Adare is a highly respected and trusted brand in critical customer communications and the combination with Mail Metrics software-led solutions should enable both to prosper greatly in the future.”

A Yorkshire company supplying raw pet food has secured a six-figure growth funding package from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Debt as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II). The funding will enable Naturaw Pet Food to continue its rapid expansion following an 18-month period in which it has almost doubled the size of its team from 18 to 35, and won the King’s Award for Enterprise for excellence in sustainable development. The company has just doubled its floorspace by taking on a second 15,000 sq ft unit at Wetherby’s Thorp Arch Estate. The NPIF II funding will enable the business to complete a fit-out and provide additional working capital as it steps up production. Naturaw provides high-welfare meat from British farms in plastic-free packaging. The company, which is a registered B Corp, supplies over 15,000 customers consisting largely of pet owners, but also including independent pet shops and grooming parlours. The business was founded by Jess Warneken in 2014 after her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Louis, developed recurrent ear and skin problems. She started to feed him a fresh meat-based diet which transformed his health. Given the difficulties in sourcing high quality raw food, Jess saw the opportunity to start Naturaw. She was joined by her partner, Tom Johnson, who created the brand identity and later by Chris Broadbent, an experienced company director. The couple used the proceeds from the sale of their house to set up their first manufacturing operation in 2018. Since then, the company has been doubling its turnover every two years and moved to larger premises three times to keep up with demand. It now offers over 20 recipes, with all production, packing and distribution carried out from the Wetherby premises. Jess Warneken, founder and Director, said: “Dogs are designed to eat fresh, natural, raw food rather than processed ingredients and we’re passionate about creating the best raw food we can. “As demand continued to rise, it was clear we had outgrown our existing premises and we had no option but to take on and fit out a second unit. Together with the funding from Mercia and NPIF II, we now have both the space and the finance we need to continue growing the business.” Gary Whitaker of Mercia Debt added: “Naturaw is a purpose-led business that has quickly built a following amongst pet owners and become a leader in its field. Access to funding is vital for fast-growing firms like these as they are constantly having to invest in bigger premises, new equipment and staff and they need more working capital. “We are pleased to be able to support the Naturaw team as they take the business to the next stage of its development.” Haroon Qammar, Growth Manager at Leeds City Council, has worked closely with Naturaw to help the company identify and leverage appropriate business support and introduced it to Mercia Debt.