Cooper & Franklin Limited, based in the village of Fencott near Kidlington, has gone into members’ voluntary liquidation after its owners resolved to close the company.

The firm, incorporated in May 2007, specialised in the development of building projects and was registered and trading from a Kidlington address.

A general meeting of shareholders on Friday, March 27, passed resolutions to wind up the company voluntarily and appoint insolvency specialists Antony Batty & Co as joint liquidators.

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Lawrence King and Matthew Waghorn, of Antony Batty & Co’s Thames Valley office in Little Baldon, near Oxford, were appointed as joint liquidators on the same day.

Their appointment was formally recorded in the London Gazette on 1 April.

According to statutory notices, directors have made a declaration of solvency, meaning all known creditors are expected to be paid in full despite the closure.

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Creditors have been told to submit details of any claims to the liquidators by Friday, April 24, ahead of a first and final distribution, after which any remaining funds will be returned to shareholders.

The notices do not give any further details about the reasons for the liquidation beyond the formal resolutions and declaration of solvency.

This newspaper has approached Cooper & Franklin for comment on the liquidation.

TeamSystem has acquired French accounting software provider ACD, expanding the Italian group’s presence in France.

In a separate transaction, it also acquired DIA Yazılım, a cloud software company in Türkiye, as it continues to build its business outside Italy.

ACD develops accounting and management software for accounting firms and related professionals in France. Founded in 2004, it now serves about 3,200 firms, which in turn support more than 1.3 million businesses.

Based in Tours and Aix-en-Provence, ACD generated about EUR €35 million in revenue in 2024 and employs more than 280 people. Its products cover accounting production, practice management, customer relationship management, document management and payroll.

The acquisition gives TeamSystem a larger foothold in a market undergoing changes to administrative and tax processes as electronic invoicing is introduced in stages. Italy has already adopted that model, and TeamSystem has built much of its domestic business around software used by companies and professional firms to manage those requirements.

France is an important market for accounting and compliance software providers because accounting firms play a central role in helping small businesses manage reporting and tax obligations. ACD’s customer base places it firmly in that segment, supplying tools used in the day-to-day operations of professional firms.

Federico Leproux, TeamSystem’s chief executive, said France was central to the group’s plans beyond Italy.

“Given the importance of professional services firms in its economic system and the profound transformation under way in administrative and tax processes, France plays a strategic role in our European growth journey,” Leproux said. “The French context is closely aligned with Italy’s, where electronic invoicing marked a milestone in the digitalisation of companies and SMEs. With the acquisition of ACD, we aim to bring this expertise to France, supporting professionals in their daily activities and helping them navigate the digital transformation.”

Türkiye Expansion

The second deal adds DIA Yazılım to TeamSystem’s portfolio. The Turkish company provides cloud ERP software for small and medium-sized enterprises and supports tens of thousands of users in its domestic market.

DIA Yazılım employs more than 100 people and offers modular software designed to meet SMEs’ operational and regulatory requirements. The acquisition extends TeamSystem’s management software business into another market where it sees similarities with Italy in regulatory and business needs.

Leproux said the Turkish acquisition followed the same approach TeamSystem has used in other countries, growing through local businesses.

“The acquisition of DIA further accelerates our growth in Türkiye. In line with our other key markets, we have adopted a long-term approach based on pursuing targeted investments, capitalising on local expertise and implementing solutions that meet the needs of SMEs, where efficiency and user experience are increasingly driving digitalisation,” he said.

Broader Growth

The two acquisitions come as TeamSystem further expands into European and nearby markets with software for businesses, accountants, and other professionals. It closed 2024 with revenue of EUR €1 billion, up 19 per cent year on year, and had more than 5,000 employees serving around 2.5 million customers.

Its products focus on business management, cloud software, and tools for running internal processes and compliance tasks. The group has positioned itself as a provider to SMEs and professional firms, both in Italy and in selected international markets where regulation and digitisation are reshaping administrative work.

Both France and Türkiye offer sizeable SME markets and established professional services sectors, making them natural targets for software groups expanding through acquisition. In France, mandatory electronic invoicing is changing how companies, accountants and software suppliers manage tax and billing processes. In Türkiye, cloud business software has been gaining wider use among smaller companies.

Advisers on the ACD deal included EY for financial, tax and HR due diligence and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer for legal work. On the DIA transaction, TeamSystem used Core Finance as M&A adviser, PwC for financial, tax and HR due diligence, and Esin Attorney for legal matters, while DIA Yazılım was advised by Keco Legal and Dora Capital.

It was announced last month that the Sobell House charity shop in London Road, Headington, would shut down on Saturday, March 28.

The long-running hospice charity said the ‘very difficult decision’ had to be taken as the costs of continuing the shop mean ‘it is no longer raising enough money to keep it open’.

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Now, the premises has been listed for rent to a new business, starting at £28,500 per year.

The partially fit-out retail shop is described as being in an ‘excellent retail location’ in the Oxford suburb of Headington.

Sobell House Hospice in Headington (Image: Richard Cave)

The listing said: “The property forms part of a terrace of similar properties being suitable for a variety of uses. It offers a rare opportunity to acquire an affordable retail unit in this busy suburb.”

Sobell House’s London Road charity shop was the one which operated closest to the hospice itself, which is based in Headington.

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Announcing the news in March, a spokesperson for the charity said: “This has been a very difficult decision. As a hospice charity, we must make sure that every pound we spend helps provide the best possible care.

“Unfortunately, the cost of running the shop has increased, and it is no longer raising enough money to keep it open.

“We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers, staff, customers and donors who have supported our Headington shop over the years, particularly given its close proximity to the hospice itself.”