Jobs under threat as another door closes for Malbern Windows
A NORTH West home improvements business employing 160 people and supplying uPVC windows and doors has been placed into administration for the second time in less than two years.
Malbern Windows & Doors, which is based in Denton, Tameside, has appointed David Whitehouse and Sarah Bell from the Manchester office of insolvency firm MCR as joint administrators on December 22.
The business, which was run by chairman Stuart Kenyon alongside co-directors Wayne Clarke and Paul Thackeray, operated from the 80,000 sq ft Malbern Industrial Estate of Holland Street in Denton. TheBusinessDesk.com understands that much of the workforce remain at home while negotiations regarding a potential buyer are ongoing.
A seperate deal is also likely to be completed to purchase its Heysham-based subsidiary, Conservatory Coloured Glass (Lancaster) Ltd, which should lead to all of the workers at that business being re-employed.
The company had initially been set up as Droylsden Glass in 1981 and only sold to trade customers.
The trio later launched Malbern Windows in 1983 and began to offer conservatories to consumers, and the firm grew to a stage where it employed more than 220 people at the time of its 25th anniversary.
However, predecessor firm Malbern uPVC Windows & Doors was forced to call in administrators in January 2009 after the business hit cashflow problems associated with a downturn in the housing market.
The three-man management team led by Mr Kenyon agreed a “pre-pack” administration deal with its then administrators Leonard Curtis to buy the business and assets back for £235,000 via Malbern Windows & Doors Ltd.
Its only filed accounts for the year to March 31, 2010 show that it made a pre-tax profit of £117,000 on sales of almost £12m. However, ongoing difficulties in the sector meant that the company called in administrators once again before Christmas.
