Canberra cloud firm collapses, director picks up assets

Government IT services provider Digital Digest Data Design (4D) is being liquidated after 21 years in business, after administrators failed to revive the company.

The company, which was on the Federal government cloud panel, had been in administration for two months and has now ceased trading, confirmed liquidator Frank Lo Pilato of RSM Bird Cameron Partners.

The Australian Taxation Office claims it is owned $3 million, though the liquidator could not confirm this debt.

Some assets, including the company’s interest in customer contracts, were purchased by 4D director Andrew Caudle, according to the minutes from the creditors' meeting. The sale price was not disclosed. Caudle declined to comment to CRN.

Minutes of the meeting reveal dramas behind the scenes at 4D, which was "deteriorating at a significant rate given low employee morale and key resignations".

Because of this situation, it was "untenable" for RSM Bird Cameron to be pursuing other sale options on the table.

4D had listed high-profile government customers, including the Department of Defence and Department of Health and Aging. The company had also listed membership of Australia’s Defence Industrial Security Program (DISP).

It was also a Microsoft gold data centre partner, Microsoft gold midmarket solution provider, and Microsoft silver hosting partner.

The company had previously gone into voluntary administration on 23 April, following a winding up application by the Deputy Commissioner of Taxation.

Another company, 4Data, is continuing to operate out of the same address and phone number to 4D, offering similar services. It was registered in 2009 and Caudle is the company's lead, according to LinkedIn.