Distributor CCTV Center Enters Administration

It was announced today that the parent company of the UK distributor CCTV Center, Center Group Limited, has entered administration.

The surveillance systems distributor has appointed insolvency practitioners SFP, after the firm built up “significant debts” to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Center Group Limited was incorporated in November 1999 and was a key distributor for Panasonic until relatively recently when they also distributed equipment from Sony and JVC, among others.

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Turnover for Center Group has reduced significantly since the recession hit in 2008, falling from GB pound 6.8m in 2007 to GB pound 5.2m in 2008 and rising slightly to GB pound 5.7m in 2009. Precise figures for 2010 through 2012 were unavailable. SFP’s Simon and Daniel Plant were appointed joint administrators on 24 September 2013, according to a statement.

Simon Plant said:

The security industry has been particularly hard hit by the downturn in the economy. The company ceased to trade prior to our appointment and we are in the process of marketing the company for potential buyers.

Company director and CCTV Center’s technical manager Tim Cocks has previously submitted articles to IFSEC Global on VMS‘ and integrated video security systems.

Norbain

The administration follows last year’s high profile Norbain administration, which saw the company put into a pre-pack administration and immediately sold to Newbury Investments. Since then the company has been relatively steady, thanks in part to the significant level of cash held by Newbury Investments.

But while the Norbain brand has survived administration, it looks doubtful that CCTV Center as a brand will be seen online again — their website is out of service and administrators are likely to be looking to sell on their assets in as complete a package as possible.

Have you been affected by the administration of Center Group Limited? Please let us know in the comments.

Article updated on 8 October: CCTV Center UK Ltd is in no way related to CCTV CENTER S.L. in Spain who have no connection with the UK company Center Group Limited.

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