Marshall Editions, a book publisher that has been hit by a string of county court judgements and winding-up petitions issued on behalf of repro firms, has been placed into administration.

The companys parent plc, Just Group, brought in KPMG, which is looking to sell its assets along with those of its 14 subsidiaries.

One subsidiary, Just Publishing, has a portfolio of magazines that includes Rugrats, Looney Tunes and Cartoon Network, which has a circulation of 51,604. Cradley is understood to print all its titles.

National Print Database partner David Whitaker said he had advised customers not to trade with Marshall Editions for 18 months.

"I have issued three statutory demands against it on behalf of repro companies," he said. "It had a number of county court judgements against it worth over 100,000, so it was the only way to get paid."

The last filed accounts for Just Group plc are to April 2000. The last accounts for Marshall Publishing and Marshall Editions are dated December 1998.

Story by John Davies