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Interesting snippet an accountant buddy from my gaming group spotted about Wayland Games over at Companies House - the UK government register of all companies. (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06690851/filing-history) On 20 Feb a formal 'winding up' notice was issued to the company, that means that on 20 April the company will be struck off the Companies House register, meaning it will no longer exist.

I did ask if this is a precursor to rebranding or some other move, but the view from the accountants in the group is that they could do this without being struck off. Their view was that it could be due to delays in filing their legally mandated accounts to the system, and that this move could be cancelled if this occurs, but thats not certain.

Either way, the advice from our gaming clubs accountants was do not order from Wayland until this is resolved. Their view is that until this is resolved and the striking off order is rescinded, your money is at serious risk and the order may never arrive - don't risk it until things become more clear. Companies House is your best source of updates on this issue.

Quite surprised if they close, I thought they were one of the more popular places to get stuff from.

Not sure what other UK sites have the same sort of big variety of different games and miniatures they do either.

Don't they also produce Dystopian Wars?

They've been promoting upcoming releases so it seems more likely someone forgot to file something important than a planned thing.

Well that's more than mildly worrying.

Hopefully this is some accounting gaff or something because Wayland haven't been sending any signals of falling apart.

I've had shipments from them arriving as normal and there hasn't been any big deluge of "my order hasn't arrived" complaints and such (unless there is and its happening somewhere I don't check out).

And as noted Warcradle is fully owned by Wayland and they've been marketing a new game for the summer and not showing any signs of falling apart either.



Ergo if it is the case then its an insanely sudden even that they've managed to hide. My money right now would be on someone filing their forms late or a late submission and then some query on the numbers that's causing things to lag and thus other bits of the system are kicking in ( chances are that notice is automatically sent by a computer)



Look at the page this happened in 2016 before and was cleared 1 day later

I hope not too many customers have outstanding orders to be fulfillled. Are they still actively taking new orders? I hope this won't be another New Wave/Maelstrom situation but it seems unlikely given there is some news ahead of time.

I placed an order with Wayland in January and it was shipped out pretty quickly. They're also actively updating stock on their website, as I keep checking back for a couple of items returning.

Another tab specifically gives the reason for the notice:

Accounts overdue
Next accounts made up to 27 September 2022
due by 18 December 2023

This is more likely to be an administrative issue than a sign of the business being on the verge of collapse. Still, if anyone still wants to buy from them I'd strongly recommend using a credit card.

Anyone remember Maelstrom Games?

 lord_blackfang wrote:
Anyone remember Maelstrom Games?

This one? - The truth about Maelstrom Games

 Overread wrote:
Hopefully this is some accounting gaff or something because Wayland haven't been sending any signals of falling apart.

...SNIP...

Look at the page this happened in 2016 before and was cleared 1 day later

Exactly this.

If company accounts are overdue then Companies House will strike the company from the register. They should now move to file their accounts ASAP and ask for the strike off to be removed. If they fail to take those actions then they company gets dissolved and the company's property gets passed to the Crown estate.

Looks like there's something gone on with their auditor to me. Maybe they've changed (which can cause delays), or are arguing over some numbers.

Could just be late filing of accounts, particularly as it’s a Compulsory.

I have to say I've ordered a few things from them recently and they've come pretty quickly (actually.. they have improved in that regard compared to the past, haha). They seem to have healthy stock levels etc. and both of those things are normally an indication of a company struggling.

Just the way Warcradle is being run leads me to believe this is a oopsy somewhere. They just announced their preorders for Dystopian Wars for a massive box today plus other stuff. Add in Armored Clash coming in a few months and it feels like it's a nothing burger.

 Pacific wrote:
I have to say I've ordered a few things from them recently and they've come pretty quickly (actually.. they have improved in that regard compared to the past, haha). They seem to have healthy stock levels etc. and both of those things are normally an indication of a company struggling.

I agree, I got my order of the new Vallejo Express Colours in almost immediately (once they showed as instock and not preorder). They don't seem to have any issue getting a hold of GW Stock (well, no more than anyone else), and GW doesn't strike me as the sort to extend much in the way of credit. Unless there are other signs I'll chalk this up as an accounting / paperwork issue for now. (noting in addition to the 2016 case, it happened in 2011 as well, that one took a couple weeks to be rescinded but doesn't seem to have caused any lasting issues.

Don't Panic Mr. Mainwaring!

Everything's fine. We've just had a delay in finalising our accounts. As the largest independent hobby retailer in Europe, we have to have auditors check our accounts (you have to have them audited once you reach a certain size). These things take time, and, unfortunately, if finishing up the paperwork goes overdue, there are automatic notices that trigger. Nothing to be worried about. The necessary paperwork should be sorted in the next few days or so.

For myself and the hundred or so staff who make our business as great be part of as it is, we're still surging ahead after our biggest and best year last year (though this year looks to be a corker too!) We have multiple brands, including Warcradle Studios, and as we have Armoured Clash coming later this year, as well as a whole bunch of amazing new miniatures for Dystopian Wars and more, I promise we're not going anywhere!

If anyone's going to Adepticon this year, just come find me and say, "I saw you in the Gazette," and I'll shout you a soda.

Stuart
Wayland Games

Stuart, that's decent of you to inform us. Appreciate it.

The heading on this thread is very misleading. There is a big difference between being threatened with winding up (which happens when a company is deemed to be unable to pay its debts) and being given a notice like this (for merely failing to comply with a filing obligation).

As this seems to be a complete nonevent I am going to lock it.