Simmtech staff resurface in guise of Rocket men

Purchase Sales director and founder move over to Phoenix operation after receivership.

Directors of defunct reseller Simmtech have reappeared at recenton after receivership. set-up Rocket Hardware following its purchase of the closed down Simmtech's assets last week.

Simmtech, which traded under the title of Performance Direct, fell into receivership on 27 May after failing to adhere to terms of its Creditors' Voluntary Agreement (CVA), agreed with creditors in November 1997. The company owed #1.3 million to its creditors (PC Dealer, 3 June).

It is understood that Rocket Hardware was a dormant operation two months ago, until it started trading on 3 June. Two former Simmtech employees are now working at the company - sales director Andrew Pryor and managing director Bruce Cattell, who is acting as a consultant.

According to David Sherwood, listed in Companies House records as company secretary at Simmtech until he resigned in January 1995, Rocket Hardware is housed at the same Ealing address as his own consultancy business, Flamble Ltd.

'My involvement is that I have lost quite a bit of money from Simmtech.

The proposal to house the company was put to me as a benefit to reduce the costs,' he said.

Sherwood also admitted that his wife, Lorraine Alfert, is currently employed as a director of Rocket Hardware as well as company secretary at Flamble.

Rocket Hardware, which was trading as a limited company, was due to be incorporated on 8 June. But a representative at Companies House said: 'A company wouldn't be allowed to do this - it is pretending to be something it isn't.'

Sherwood admitted the company had traded under a limited title but said: 'We have been trading for three days and thought it was okay. This was done innocently.' Cattell was unavailable to comment.

Egham-based Simmtech had previously agreed a CVA with its creditors, but two weeks ago the bank pulled the plug on the operation when information given was found to be inaccurate.