GrabOne creditors claiming $16.5m, with unsecured claims at $3.9m

Friday, 24 October 2025

Creditors are claiming more than $16 million from insolvent discount provider GrabOne, after the company’s Australian owners tipped it into liquidation last week.

Calibre Partners liquidators Neal Jackson and Daniel Stoneman were appointed liquidators of Global Marketplace New Zealand Ltd and released the company’s first liquidator’s report on Thursday.

Jackson and Stoneman found total creditor claims were at $16.5m, with a related party making the biggest claim at $9.3m.

Unsecured creditors, the least likely to get a return, are claiming almost $3.9m. That includes businesses who had honoured GrabOne customer discounts, but had not yet been paid for their services.

The company employed 15 staff who received contract termination letters on October 16. Employees have a preferential claim for $365,000.

Another preferential creditor is Inland Revenue, claiming $153,000, with future tax liabilities coming in at $2.9m.

Total company assets were at $800,000, with $380,000 of those in unredeemed credit and gift cards.

Liquidators have not responded to requests for comment.

Global Marketplace NZ is wholly owned by Australian parent company, Global Marketplace Pty. Liquidators did not provide reasons for the Melbourne-based business tipping its New Zealand arm into liquidation.

Customer issues

To customers, Jackson and Stoneman said GrabOne could not issue refunds during the liquidation. They encouraged customers to file a creditor claim but those were unlikely to be paid back.

Customers with an existing product order were requested to contact the business directly to see if orders would still be sent, or vouchers would be honoured.

Retailers could decide whether to accept GrabOne vouchers, but they would not be reimbursed for them. Credits or unused vouchers were considered company liabilities and couldn’t be redeemed. Customers could still file a claim for their value, though a payout was unlikely, liquidators said.

Businesses that supplied goods or honoured deals were also unsecured creditors. The liquidators are getting business payment records but those claims were also unlikely to be paid back.

Background

Retail analysts believe GrabOne, one of the first deals websites in the country, had fallen out of fashion with consumers in recent years, ultimately leading to the company’s demise.

Founded by Shane Bradley in 2010 as a daily deal website, GrabOne was launched as a joint venture with media company NZME, which eventually took full ownership.

The company grew quickly to become a leading player in the e-commerce market and was later sold to Global Marketplace in 2021 for $17.5m.

NZME said at the time it “was not a core strategic focus”, contributing between $2.5 million and $3m per year under its ownership. It said Global Marketplace was “a perfect fit as GrabOne’s new owner”.

Global Marketplace New Zealand Limited was owned by Global Marketplace Pty, owner of Click Frenzy, Click Central and Power Retail. The company is owned by founder Grant Arnott and Tanarra Capital, which acquired its stake in 2016.

NZME had nothing to add when contacted for comment early this week.