Second Jump Swim entity faces liquidation

July 9, 2019

JUMP! Swim Schools has been dealt another blow with franchisor Jump Loops Pty Ltd placed in Court appointed liquidation. The Jump Loops liquidation announcement comes just weeks after alternate franchise entity Jump Swim Schools Services Pty Ltd suffered a similar fate.

At a Federal Court hearing last Friday, Registrar Claire Gitsham ordered that Jump Loops be wound up in insolvency under the provisions of the Corporations Act. Michael Yeo and Gess Rambaldi from Pitcher Partners were appointed as liquidators.

As reported by Inside Franchise Business, the Jump Loops liquidation and wind-up decision marks a notable development in the troubled franchise’s attempt to recover from a wealth of negative media attention.

The application had been ongoing since May, but was significantly bolstered when the Deputy Commissioner Of Taxation joined as a supporting creditor.

For franchisees, the Jump Loops liquidation and insolvency decision could have wide-spread effects.

In an email obtained by Inside Franchise Business sent to Jump Loops franchisees, the embattled franchisor revealed ongoing legal disputes had hampered operation.

The email advises “as you may be aware, the company has been under financial pressure over the recent months, and we were unable to meet the court’s requests in order to have the winding up application dismissed whilst we secured additional funding.

“We will be working with the liquidator to assist in this process as much as possible”.

However, former JUMP! Swim Schools franchisee Shaun Trumbull said he isn’t confident duped franchisees will recover funds through the liquidation process.

The ex-Sydney Northern Beaches franchisee was one of the few to sign his agreements through franchisor Swim Loops, which entered voluntary administration in May.

He advised “it doesn’t affect me directly, but it will certainly affect the existing Jump Loops franchisees.

“Out of the 82 unopened schools, the majority of them are under Jump Loops.”

Trumbull told Inside Franchise Business that the outstanding amount owed to Jump Loops made the task of fund recovery near impossible.

In June it was revealed that Swim Loops owed creditors more than $15 million, much of which came from internal Jump Swim franchise entities.

Trumbull added “given the fact that Jump Loops lent Swim Loops around $10m, I don’t see any of them getting anything back.”

With two of its major entities now being wound up in Federal Court, the decision places Jump Swim in a difficult position.

At the end of June, the Federal Court ruled to have asset freezing order extended to cover foreign entities and transactions. The move effectively put a halt to a proposed Deed of Company Arrangement, further compounded by Friday’s decision.

Additionally, the company’s legal battle with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is ongoing, with a second Swim Loops creditors’ meeting to be held in the next 35 days.

Click here to read Inside Franchise Business' original article.

Image: Jump founder Ian Campbell

24th June 2019 - Report reveals JUMP! swim school’s entity had ‘poor budgeting control’ and owes millions

18th June 2019 - Jump! Swim Schools faces court over ACCC claims it misled franchisees

14th June 2019 - Federal Court freezes JUMP! Swim Schools assets as ACCC seeks $4 million in refunds for franchisees

4th June 2019 - Jump! Swim Schools representatives Swim Loops enters voluntary administration

15th March 2019 - Senate report says Australian franchising activities requires drastic overhaul

9th January 2019 - Jump! Swim School responds to media reports of dissatisfied franchisees

8th January 2019 - Media slam Jump! Swim Schools over dissatisfied franchisees

24th October 2016 - JUMP! Swim Schools named Emerging Franchisor of the Year

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