MPG situation still unresolved

The trading status of MPG Printgroup remains in limbo with employees, suppliers and customers unsure of the situation.

It had been expected that administrators would be appointed at the business yesterday (28 May), but no-one had been appointed at the time of writing on Wednesday.

Suppliers, employees and customers remain in the dark about what will happen next at the £19.4m turnover business, which employs more than 200 staff.

One employee told PrintWeek: "No-one knows what’s going on. Unite the union have been in today, but they can’t do anything for us until an administrator is appointed."

A supplier to the group, who wished to remain anonymous, described the situation as "a great worry".

"We are trying to find out what’s happening. We’re owed a reasonable sum of money as are many people in the industry."

There is understood to be interest in the company’s well-invested King’s Lynn digital printing facility from possible third-party purchasers.

Things came to a head at the company last week, apparently because of a cashflow crisis caused by overrunning costs at its new Cambridge facility, set up after MPG took over the former Cambridge University Press in-house print operation.

The resulting hiatus has resulted in a huge outpouring of comments on the printweek.com forum, but no statement from the company itself.