Signature Brands ceases trading

Signature Brands, the group that owns the licence for designer Paul Costelloe's womenswear collections, along with labels including Dannimac, has gone into administration.

The London-based company has ceased trading and administrators at Ernst & Young said they were talking to interested parties about acquiring the business.

Signature Brands supplies retailers, including House of Fraser and John Lewis, with fashion collections and also runs concessions in some stores.

According to its accounts for the year ending 31 July 2009, pre-tax losses increased to 1.46 million from 388,294 the year before on turnover of 15.5m compared with 17.1m in 2008. Net debt increased to just over 6m.

At the time the company said the figures reflected competitive pressures.