The British eCommerce cycling retail giant WiggleCRC has cancelled orders and stopped paying its suppliers, and is refusing to receive goods until further notice, according to a Cyclingnews source.
The news comes in the wake of a tumultuous few weeks for the brand’s parent company, Signa Sports United (SSU), who first announced an “accelerated restructuring program” alongside plans to delist from the New York Stock Exchange amid what it described as “severe profitability challenges.” It then suffered another blow as its major shareholder, Signa Holdings GmbH, reneged on an unconditional commitment of funds totalling €150m.
Since then, Cycling Electric has reported that WiggleCRC has filed for “self administration,” citing a letter sent to business partners and statements made in Companies House filings.
In the letter, also seen by Cyclingnews, which was sent by another subsidiary of SSU, Internetstores, the umbrella company that encompasses the majority of SSU’s EU eCommerce brands, it is revealed that the brand will file for insolvency.
It is, unclear whether this statement relates to Internetstores or the parent company SSU, but a statement to investors from Signa Sports United published today provides some clarity. It starts by stating that Tennis-Point GmbH, one of the major subsidiaries of Signa Sports United N.V has filed for insolvency, adding that “other legal entities of the Signa Sports Group, including Signa Sports United N.V. as ultimate parent company of the SIGNA Sports United Group, are in the course of preparing the initiation of insolvency proceedings in the coming days.”
In the letter, it asks the recipient “not to hand over new goods,” suggesting they are kept in their warehouse “for the time being.”
The owner of one of WiggleCRC’s suppliers, who wished to remain anonymous, told Cyclingnews that the situation is similar with the British retailer, but “those words [insolvency or administration] were not used”.
“We have had open [purchase orders] cancelled and I was told on a call that they are not paying any more supplier invoices, and not receiving any more goods in until further notice.”
Another source told Cyclingnews‘ sister publication, Cycling Weekly, that the firm had said it was “hitting the pause button,” resulting in the stopped payment of invoices.
When approached for comment, a Wiggle spokesperson said “We have nothing further to add at this point.”
Filings to Companies House—the executive agency of the British…
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