Business & Technology
High Court order puts UK transport firm in liquidation after 18 years
Carriage Company (Oxon) Limited, based in Banbury, was put into compulsory liquidation with immediate effect on February 4 after HMRC filed a winding-up petition seeking debt repayment.
The petition was initially presented on December 9, 2025, by the Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs, who claimed to be creditors of the company.
The case was heard at the High Court’s Royal Courts of Justice in London on February 4 at 10.30am, resulting in a winding-up order.
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Documents submitted to Companies House this month revealed that the company’s dissolution has been deferred until April 4, 2032.
Such a move usually allows a company’s legal status to remain active so authorities can wind up legal actions and recover assets.
A notice relating to the Banbury-based firm, signed by the Insolvency Service on behalf of the Secretary of State, reads: “The dissolution of the company [will] be deferred and take effect on April 4, 2032, unless a further direction is issued.”
The taxi operation, which was incorporated on November 6, 2008, had been providing taxi and private-hire vehicle services in the Oxfordshire area for almost 18 years before its collapse.
Companies House records show the firm was registered as a private limited company specialising in taxi operations.
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The liquidation comes amid soaring business failures across the UK, with company insolvencies rising sharply in recent months.
Data from the Insolvency Service showed that the number of company insolvencies rose month-on-month to March by 7 per cent to 2,022.
Company administrations surged 52 per cent between February and March to 235 and were 82 per cent higher when compared to March 2025, while compulsory liquidations jumped 18 per cent.
Industry experts have blamed the Iran war and soaring wage bills for sending costs surging across the transport sector.
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The surge in fuel and energy prices, driven by the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, has severely impacted industries such as transport and manufacturing.
Transport firms have been particularly vulnerable to rising operational costs, with fuel expenses climbing sharply alongside increased wage pressures and regulatory burdens.
The collapse of Carriage Company (Oxon) Limited marks the latest in a series of transport and travel-related business failures in 2026.
Earlier this month, several UK airlines and travel companies also entered liquidation or administration, citing similar cost pressures.
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The six-year deferral of dissolution is a relatively lengthy period, suggesting authorities may anticipate complex asset recovery proceedings or ongoing legal matters requiring the company’s legal status to remain active.
HMRC’s involvement as the petitioning creditor indicates the company owed substantial tax debts, though the exact amount has not been disclosed in public filings.
The closure leaves customers and creditors awaiting further details on asset recovery and potential refunds.
This newspaper has approached Carriage Company (Oxon) Limited for comment.
Business & Technology
Rosa’s Thai is giving away 4000 free Pad Thais to students
Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.
The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.
To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.
Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.
Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.
Business & Technology
Historic coin company enters administration after 20 years
The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.
The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.
A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).
“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.
What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?
“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”
The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.
The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.
Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.
An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.
What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?
Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”
It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.
Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”
The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.
Business & Technology
Warning of new rules for Aldi and Lidl after watchdog review
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that both discounters should be added to the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which currently applies to Asda, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.
This order is designed to prevent large grocery retailers from using land agreements to block competitors from opening nearby stores, often through restrictive covenants or exclusivity terms.
Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement and markets at the CMA, said: “We want everyone to have the best choice of supermarket and range of prices when buying their groceries.
“To ensure this happens, we put rules in place to prevent big supermarket chains blocking rival stores from opening nearby – and now we propose applying those rules to Aldi and Lidl too.
“This is about allowing shoppers to choose where they spend their money and levelling the playing field for all major supermarkets.
“Today’s proposals are provisional and we welcome views before deciding the best way forward.”
The CMA’s review found that Aldi, Lidl GB, and Lidl NI now meet the criteria of ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs) due to their store footprint, nationwide presence, procurement model, and the breadth of their grocery range.
Aldi and Lidl were originally excluded from the 2010 order as ‘limited assortment discounters’, offering a smaller selection of products compared to traditional supermarkets.
However, the CMA’s provisional findings indicate that this is no longer the case.
All three now operate large grocery stores, each with more than 1,000 square metres of shop floor space, and offer a full range of products, though with less category choice than some competitors.
They also purchase goods directly from suppliers through integrated wholesaling.
With the UK grocery market estimated to be worth £215 billion, Aldi and Lidl are now ranked among the top five retailers by market share.
The CMA is seeking feedback from stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
Aldi and Lidl could join the other supermarket chains later this year.
The CMA is inviting views until 5pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will issue its final decision in the autumn after reviewing responses.
If the discounters are included under the order, they will be prevented from using land agreements to limit competition from other supermarket chains.
The CMA aims to ensure competition across the grocery sector to give shoppers more choice and competitive pricing by removing obstacles to new store openings.
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