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it is not unusual for suppliers to believe that as its the same company name over the door that trades on they should get paid.

As the company went in to administration it means that legally the company that controlled house of Fraser have gone bust and all debts belong to them and not the buyer of the assets which of course is Mike Ashley.

suppliers have a choice, they either swallow the debt [some will be insured for a large part of it] or you will no longer work for the new company. most , if they can choose to carry on .

i suspect in this case that Ashley will want to take distribution in house and on that basis he no longer needs XPO and they know that hence the stupid position they have taken as legally they can do nothing about it. they will however be legally liable for ongoing losses to Ashley if they dont comply.

the price paid by Ashley was low and after the costs of the administrator, accountants, legal advisers and banks have been met there will be next to nothing left to distribute to creditors.