A London judge has issued a closure order for the UK unit of La Perla, a distinguished luxury lingerie manufacturer, due to unpaid tax obligations. This development underscores the financial pressures faced by parent company Tennor Holding BV, and its principal majority owner, Lars Windhorst.
La Perla Global Management (UK) Limited faced liquidation by a High Court judge in London as it grappled with a substantial debt of £2.8 million ($3.4 million) in unpaid taxes and a petition from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC). In cases where creditors seek the winding up of a company to recover their dues, a winding-up order is sought. This action was supported by HMRC along with two other creditors.
La Perla, celebrated for its high-end lingerie, offers a range of products, including bras that can exceed £300 in price, as well as nightwear, pyjamas, and knickers, as per its website.
This development highlights the financial challenges encountered by Windhorst and Tennor, with another subsidiary of La Perla also facing a separate winding-up petition from two Jersey entities known as Carlton Tower. Court records reveal that HMRC recently filed a petition against a company named Lars Windhorst Private Office Ltd.
To date, representatives for Windhorst and Tennor have not responded to requests for comment.
Judge Sally Barber, presiding over the case, noted that the petition at the core of Wednesday’s ruling had been filed «as long ago as June.» She further pointed out that multiple adjournments had been granted to allow the company time to settle its outstanding debts.
A lawyer representing La Perla Global Management in court clarified that the delay in payment was due to a hindrance in cash injection from the company’s shareholder, though the exact reasons were not disclosed. The lawyer also mentioned that Tennor Group was planning to transfer £12 million to the company within the next 14 days. Nonetheless, the judge declined to grant an adjournment to extend the repayment period for the company’s debts.
Windhorst had previously appeared in a UK court in July this year, where he was required to disclose his assets while Manfredi Lefevbre D’Ovidio’s Heritage Travel and Tourism Ltd. sought to recover a debt exceeding €172 million ($181 million). Tennor Holding, Windhorst’s investment entity, faced insolvency in the Netherlands in 2021, though this ruling was later overturned on appeal. Windhorst has also faced legal actions from figures such as shipping magnate Kristian Siem and brokerage ADS Securities.
