Trading status of remaining Aldersons companies unclear

The administrators of the four operating companies of Aldersons Print Group are to issue an update on the trading status of the companies next week.

John Whitfield, Benjamin Wiles and Paul Clark, of Duff & Phelps were appointed to Alderson Brothers Printers, Alderson Digital London, Alderson Point of Sale, and Don Dawson on 14 September, since when the companies have continued to trade.

Whitfield, Wiles and Clark were also appointed administrators to ABP Web 31 August, although the web operation subsequently ceased trading with all 90 staff made redundant.

However, of the 160 employees remaining at the four trading companies in administration, PrintWeek understands that only around 50 staff were working across the businesses last week and that work in progress ran out in recent days. It’s unclear how many staff currently remain on site.

Neither the companies nor the administrators were available for comment at the time of writing, but it is understood that the administrators were still talking to potential trade buyers last week.

There had been industry speculation that Bezier was one of the potential buyers, but according to sources close to the company the potential deal hit a number of hurdles, believed to centre on the ownership of certain assets, and Bezier withdrew its interest as a result. Bezier was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.

A spokesperson for the administrators said that they planned to issue an update on the four operating companies next week.

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