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BuzzFeed UK threatened with being dissolved over late accounts

The online media business is already more than two months late and risks fines unless it files its 2018 financial information soon.

BuzzFeed UK has been told it will be dissolved in two months if it fails to file its accounts with Companies House.

The warning comes after the online media organisation missed a deadline at the end of September to submit its financial information for 2018.

On Monday, a “First Gazette” notice was issued for a compulsory strike-off.

The notice says: “The Registrar of Companies gives notice that, unless cause is shown to the contrary, the company will be struck off the register and dissolved not less than two months from (December 10).”

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BuzzFeed has grown its audience in the UK, but profits have been harder to come by (BuzzFeed UK/PA)

These could include extending the company’s accounting period, although Companies House must still be informed, and most experts agree an accounting extension is typically a sign of financial difficulties.

The period covered in the late BuzzFeed UK accounts covers a difficult year for the business, with revenues failing to match expectations.

In January this year, founder and chief executive Jonah Peretti announced that 15% of the workforce worldwide would be laid off to cut costs.

It came weeks after UK editor-in-chief Janine Gibson stepped down after three-and-a-half years in charge and followed calls from staff to unionise.

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BuzzFeed UK managed to bag big-name interviews during previous elections, including former PM David Cameron (Yui Mok/PA)

Despite heavy cuts to its UK workforce, it has managed to bag some major scoops and awards, including being named news website of the year in 2018.

BuzzFeed UK also uncovered a series of troubling deaths of Russians in the UK, leading to the reopening of police investigations, and reporters also exposed a series of issues at the Department of Justice.

A spokeswoman for BuzzFeed UK said accounts would be filed “soon” but declined to specify.

In 2017 the business made a pre-tax loss of £1.9 million on turnover of £33.4 million, although the accounts said it continues to be financially supported by its US parent company.

In 2016 it made a pre-tax loss of £3.3 million on revenues of £20.5 million.