With the shock, if not complete surprise, that Deben Transport has ceased trading today, The Hub took a closer look at some of the company's recent filings at Companies House.
Having rescued Elite Transport Services from administration in 2013 (picking up the assets for £75,000 - but paying a total consolidation of around £385,884 if goodwill etc is included), the container specialist took more of a hit from associated bad debts than it had expected as a consequence.
Its latest accounts for the year to 31 December 2013 saw a £63,568 profit in 2012 become a £668,135 pre-tax loss. This was despite turnover increasing 15% year-on-year to £34m in the period.
At the time commercial director Rachael McCall said the loss was due to Elite and that the best was yet to come.
She added that a pick-up had become evident during the second half of last year and a return to growth off the back of volume increases and new wins in 2015 expected.
McCall has since taken on the reins at the business she joined in June 2014 and is now CEO and sole director.
Former MD Paul Dawson and finance director Charles Davies (who joined in in July 2014) left their roles at the company in March of this year, according to documents filed at Companies House.
Director Steven Jones, who was appointed in May 2014, stepped down as a director in November last year.
This has left McCall as the sole director of the business.
The operator is listed as being 50% owned by Deben Transport Holdings and 50% owned by J Nort Investments. However, on closer inspection, J Nort actually has 50.003% and the controlling stake in Deben Transport.
Its ultimate holding company is Redburn (Holdings), which changed its name from Deben Transport Holdings in February 2015. It's majority shareholder - with more than 90% - is listed at Companies House as Dawson.