The CMA Files – Revisited

On 23 March 2023, following a four-year probe into collusion, bid-rigging and cover pricing, the Competition and Markets Authority handed down fines totalling almost £60 million to 10 members of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors. The magnitude of those fines was unprecedented in the UK demolition sector.

Yet, in the two years since, precious little has changed. In fact, most of the companies found guilty of collusion, bid-rigging and cover pricing have not just survived. They have thrived.

And now, five of them have been welcomed onto a Governmental demolition framework.

In this exclusive video, we look back at the investigation, the fines, and the way in which the fallout was contained.

The Break Fast Show #904

In today’s show: There’s three big bangs in Glasgow; Sunward unveils a hot new telescopic handler; familiar quick coupler, different name; and digging in soup.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: The CMA Files Revisited – We’re looking back at the fines handed down by the Competition and Markets Authority two years ago yesterday, and what has transpired since.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show; the world’s only daily LiveStream show dedicated to demolition, construction and construction equipment.

In each interactive episode, we’ll deliver your daily fix of news, views, video and comment from across the sector and around the world.

Take part in our Question of the Day, try to identify the Mystery Machine, and be sure to stick around for Mark’s Morning Monologue and the chat in our after-show discussion session, The Craic.

The Break Fast Show #903

In today’s show: An operator’s eye view of Hydrema; digging deep with John Deere; old school landscaping values with Bobcat; and the colour of Kobelco.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: The age of the agnostic is almost upon us.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show; the world’s only daily LiveStream show dedicated to demolition, construction and construction equipment.

In each interactive episode, we’ll deliver your daily fix of news, views, video and comment from across the sector and around the world.

Take part in our Question of the Day, try to identify the Mystery Machine, and be sure to stick around for Mark’s Morning Monologue and the chat in our after-show discussion session, The Craic.

The Break Fast Show #901

In today’s show: Tru7 Demolition demolishes a bridge over the UK’s busiest motorway; we’re taking a closer look at the new CASE 421G wheel loader; we have some epic footage of a French road construction project; and we’re off to the US to see a race track under construction and repair.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: The meaningless words and phrases that are thrown around in demolition and construction circles.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show; the world’s only daily LiveStream show dedicated to demolition, construction and construction equipment.

In each interactive episode, we’ll deliver your daily fix of news, views, video and comment from across the sector and around the world.

Take part in our Question of the Day, try to identify the Mystery Machine, and be sure to stick around for Mark’s Morning Monologue and the chat in our after-show discussion session, The Craic.

Squibb’s “missing millions”

Squibb Group’s liquidators say they have had “significant difficulty” finding millions of pounds worth of plant and other assets the firm said it owned before it went under.

According to Construction News, liquidators Jonathan Thielmann and David Standish from Interpath said Squibb Group valued its plant and machinery at around £2.5 million when it filed for a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in October 2023.

At that time, Squibb also estimated that it owned scrap metal with a book value of around £200,000, office equipment with a book value of approximately £32,000, motor vehicles with a book value of approximately £264,000 and fixtures and fittings with a book value of approximately £24,000.

But the liquidators said they have had “significant difficulty identifying and realising [Squibb’s] assets”.

They said they had so far only found plant and machinery belonging to Squibb with a market value of around £167,000, which they sold for around £100,000.

The liquidators also said they understood that no scrap metal, vehicles, office equipment, or fixtures and fittings had been found at Squibb’s premises when the liquidation process began.

“The fate of these assets are being investigated by the joint liquidators,” Interpath said in its report.

Squibb Group was one of 10 National Federation of Demolition Contractors member companies found guilty in a Competition and Markets Authority probe into collusion, bid-rigging and cover pricing that resulted in fines of more than £60 million in March 2023.

Read more here.

The Break Fast Show #900

In today’s show: John Deere unveils its new scraper pans; Hydrema breaks out its latest backhoe loader; XCMG goes compact; and Dynaset is powering towards an electric future.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: Why you don’t have to wait for a specific day to show affection, kindness, respect or grief.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show; the world’s only daily LiveStream show dedicated to demolition, construction and construction equipment.

In each interactive episode, we’ll deliver your daily fix of news, views, video and comment from across the sector and around the world.

Take part in our Question of the Day, try to identify the Mystery Machine, and be sure to stick around for Mark’s Morning Monologue and the chat in our after-show discussion session, The Craic.

The Break Fast Show #899

In today’s show: Moving a million yards of earth with K-Tec scrapers; we’re checking out a new mini excavator from CASE; there’s a sneak peek at a new wheel loader model from Shantui; and this crawler crane is a mini marvel.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: Why Angela Rayner’s “seismic” overhaul of the planning system is only half the battle.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show; the world’s only daily LiveStream show dedicated to demolition, construction and construction equipment.

In each interactive episode, we’ll deliver your daily fix of news, views, video and comment from across the sector and around the world.

Take part in our Question of the Day, try to identify the Mystery Machine, and be sure to stick around for Mark’s Morning Monologue and the chat in our after-show discussion session, The Craic.

The BreakFast Show #898

In today’s show: We get the low-down on the CASE wheel loader range; Komatsu’s hybrid excavator is the perfect stop-off point on the road to zero emissions; this Jekko mini crane raises the bar; and Cardem is on the pull.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: What if this is it?

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show; the world’s only daily LiveStream show dedicated to demolition, construction and construction equipment.

In each interactive episode, we’ll deliver your daily fix of news, views, video and comment from across the sector and around the world.

Take part in our Question of the Day, try to identify the Mystery Machine, and be sure to stick around for Mark’s Morning Monologue and the chat in our after-show discussion session, The Craic.

The Break Fast Show #897

In today’s show: Liberty Industrial and the tale of an epic demolition project; Bobcat hits a Homerun; Caterpillar centralises fleet management; and let’s twist again.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: The unaffordable cost of urban exploration.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show; the world’s only daily LiveStream show dedicated to demolition, construction and construction equipment.

In each interactive episode, we’ll deliver your daily fix of news, views, video and comment from across the sector and around the world.

Take part in our Question of the Day, try to identify the Mystery Machine, and be sure to stick around for Mark’s Morning Monologue and the chat in our after-show discussion session, The Craic.

The Break Fast Show #896

In today’s show: C&D and the power of collaboration; Thiess Mining celebrates a 20-year milestone; Caterpillar sends out an SOS; and Bomag comes to a controlled stop.

PLUS in Mark’s Morning Monologue: We are marking International Women’s Day by NOT marking International Women’s Day.

Join host Mark Anthony LIVE for The Break Fast Show; the world’s only daily LiveStream show dedicated to demolition, construction and construction equipment.

In each interactive episode, we’ll deliver your daily fix of news, views, video and comment from across the sector and around the world.

Take part in our Question of the Day, try to identify the Mystery Machine, and be sure to stick around for Mark’s Morning Monologue and the chat in our after-show discussion session, The Craic.