Five Leading Edge Telecoms in doubt as parent collapses

The fate of five Leading Edge Telecoms stores in Queensland is in doubt after parent company Cap Coast Telecoms Pty Ltd filed for liquidation.

A decision was made to voluntarily wind up Cap Coast Telecoms on 20 January with liquidator Mark Hutchins from advisory firm Cor Cordis appointed.

Six business names are registered under Cap Coast Telcoms, according to an ABN search. They include Leading Edge Telecoms in Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Gracemere, Gladstone City and Emerald. Leading Edge Telecoms general manager Eugene De Francesco confirmed to CRN that these five businesses had gone into liquidation.

CRN attempted to contact Cap Coast Telecoms and the liquidator, but was unable to make contact by the time of publication. Calls to the company’s stores were not answered.

A Telstra spokesperson also confirmed that the Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Gracemere, Gladstone City and Emerald Leading Edge Telecoms businesses had gone into liquidation.

Leading Edge Telecoms is one of Australia’s largest Telstra dealers, with over 85 members, according to its web site. Leading Edge Telecoms businesses are independently owned; Cap Coast Telecoms is a member of the Leading Edge Telecoms buying group.

A statement from Telstra reads: “Customers affected by this sudden and unexpected closure are encouraged to contact our friendly and helpful Telstra store teams in Rockhampton, Gladstone, Emerald and Yeppoon.

"Our teams will work closely with affected customers to ensure minimal disruption and inconvenience and the fulfilment of any outstanding repair orders.”

Local newspaper The Morning Bulletin reported on 20 January that the stores had closed, with some employees reportedly receiving text messages at 2am telling them they were out of a job.

Also registered under Cap Coast Telecoms is Leading Edge Telecoms Ipswich, which CRN was told was not previously operating.