Comet revival investigated by administrator Deloitte over infringement concerns

Administrator Deloitte, which owns the collapsed retailer’s brand, said it is considering whether entrepreneur Clive Coombes’ Meridian Comet venture infringes its trademark. Deloitte said the brand remains up for sale.

Retail Week last week revealed Coombes is targeting an 80-store estate and an eventual AIM listing for Meridian Comet and had taken advice on the legality of using the name.

Coombes’ ambition has been questioned by some retail commentators who believe his hopes to launch and expand in the low margin category with high street overheads will be challenging.

Verdict electricals analyst Matthew Rubin said: “Coombes’s attempt to bring the Comet name back from the dead is valiant, but ultimately doomed. With ‘old fashioned’ retailing and plans to avoid the multichannel approach altogether, Mr Coombes appears to have overlooked where real market growth is coming from.

“Doing so not only deprives Meridian Comet of what might have been a lifeline, but also makes the business ripe for showrooming.”

Conlumino managing director Neil Saunders said: “When Comet collapsed it was because the market was already saturated, so it doesn’t need another player.”

A Meridian Comet spokesman said Coombes is talking to advisers over the matters.