By Patrick Avenell
The company Sony Australia contracted to handle its after sales service, Infoteam Asia, has been placed in voluntary liquidation with debts exceeding $3 million.
UPDATE #1: Sony ceased using Infoteam earlier this year, prior to this liquidation, when it appointed Infinet Service Solutions (ISS) as its after sales service provider. The headline of this article has been changed to make clear that Sony had changed providers before this liquidation. Sony Australia provided the following statement explaining its position:
"Sony Australia does not comment on the financial status of other organisations, however, we can confirm that Sony ceased its relationship with InfoTeam Asia when it was advised that InfoTeam Asia intended to withdraw from the CE market in Australia. Sony Australia subsequently transferred its service function to Infinet Service Solutions on 1 April 2013."
Sydney-based liquidators BPS Recovery were appointed on 3 June 2013 to liquidate the company, which is described as a joint venture operation, after its solvency was first questioned at a meeting on 19 April 2013.
“[Infoteam Asia] was incorporated on 27 January 2012 in the state of New South Wales,” reads a letter sent from the liquidator Mitchell Ball to creditors, leaked to Current.com.au. “The company formerly operated as a joint venture vehicle comprising businesses specialising in the repair of Sony PS3 and other Sony products, as well as Netgear products.
“A meeting of the company’s shareholders was held on 3 June 2013 at which time the shareholders resolved that the company be wound up and that I be appointed liquidator.”
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According to BPS Recovery’s initial assessment, Infoteam Asia has realisable assets valued at just over $290,000, compared to debts over $3.3 million. The secured creditor in this liquidation is owed $315,000.
Fourteen unsecured creditors are owed more than $10,000, including joint venture partner Infoteam Oceania ($623,000), Tentwoone Investments ($316,000), Dexus Property Group ($156,000) and the Australian Taxation Office ($54,000).
Smaller creditors include Fuji Xerox, Jaycar, Officeworks, a Sony Centre in Western Australia and online recruitment company Seek.
In his letter to creditors, Ball said that based on a preliminary investigation, it was likely that there would be a return to creditors, though this is “largely dependent on the success in recovering [InfoTeam Asia’s] debtor ledger and wholly subject to the claims of the secured creditors”.
Current.com.au first revealed that Sony Australia was appointing InfoTeam in January 2012. Here is how Sony Australia described the appointment at the time:
“From 1 April 2012, Sony Australia will be delivering service and support to consumer AV/IT customers via a nationally centralised service partner, InfoTeam Oceania,” said a Sony Australia spokesperson.
“This company will leverage its extensive Sony knowledge and experience to provide new levels of service for our consumer AV/IT products.
“By managing our customers from a central base, Sony believes it will be able to provide customers with the most direct and effective service.
“No matter where our customers live or how they want to deal with us, we will be able to offer them the support they need in a prompt and consistent way.”
According to a letter purportedly sent by Sony Australia to “Infoteam (sic) Service Partner[s]” in March 2013, IntoTeam Oceania was replaced by Infinet Service Solutions (ISS) in early March.
UPDATE #2: This letter has now been verified as genuine.
Current.com.au has been unable to independently verify this letter, published in full here, which contains the following:
“I’m writing to you to confirm the news that the business relationship between Infoteam Asia Pacific and Sony Australia will be ending.
“Infoteam AP (joint venture) has chosen to withdraw from the CE market in Australia due to a reduction in service volumes which has changed the dynamics of the market.
“Sony Australia has appointed Infinet Service Solutions (ISS) to operate the new National Service Centre for its service business.
“We understand that ISS will be in contact with all existing Service Partners regarding opportunities to continue working on the Sony business.”