RBC Logistics has given notice of its intention (NOI) to appoint an administrator, in a move which follows the collapsed sale of its parent company RBC Group to retail technology provider Bright.Blue.
Melton Mowbray-based RBC Logistics, which is a subsidiary of RBC Group, filed its NOI on 20 March just four months after Bright.Blue announced it had purchased RBC Group for an undisclosed sum, in a transaction led by Bright.Blue’s private equity partner SecretLab.
Although the acquisition was announced on both Bright.Blue and RBC Group’s LinkedIn pages on 26 November last year, a spokesman for Bright.Blue told MT this week that the acquisition did not go ahead, but declined to say why the deal had failed.
The announcement of the acquisition in November revealed Bright.Blue’s plans to create an advanced retail tech platform, which would combine its IoT hardware, AI-powered software, and computer vision analytics, with RBC’s operational infrastructure.
It promised RBC would secure long-term strategic investment and access to a pipeline of work across retail tech, health tech and connected automation technologies.
Colin Lowe, RBC MD, described the deal at the time of the announcement as “a defining moment for RBC” which would bring “renewed momentum, substantial investment, and access to technology that will transform what we deliver for our customers.”
RBC Logistics provides logistics, warehousing and supply chain solutions from six depots across the UK. It has an operating licence for 32 trucks and 20 trailers. It specialises in white glove, two man and final mile deliveries, as well as reverse logistics, specialist logistics and warehousing.
Its NOI gives it a temporary moratorium of up to 10 business days, during which creditors cannot take enforcement action without court leave, and allows directors time to try to reorganise, negotiate, or prepare a formal administration application.
RBC Logistics has appointed Glaisyers Solicitors are its representative.
MT’s request for comment from RBC Group has yet to receive a response.
