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Administrators move in at Butler and Tanner
Administrators have been appointed to liquidate the assets of Butler and Tanner, PrintWeek can exclusively reveal.
Andrew Andronikou and Peter Kubik of UHY Hacker & Young were appointed this afternoon, following chief executive Mike Dolan’s controversial closure of the company on 26 April.
The move comes the same day as Unite presented a petition to the Birmingham District Registry of the High Court seeking the winding up of the company, citing fears that Dolan was continuing to run the company with agency staff.
Dolan reaffirmed his denial that any agency staff had been to the site since its closure.
PrintWeek can also reveal that a former employee of the company approached Dolan with an interest in buying the business as a going concern.
However, Dolan said that the individual had not demonstrated an "intention or ability" to cover the unsecured creditors or to fund an ongoing operation. Therefore a decision was taken that it was in the best interests of the creditors of the company to continue with the proposed liquidation.
The move comes as former employees continue to picket the site in Frome, Somerset, attempting to disrupt the final orders being processed at the site.
Butler and Tanner was bought out of administration by MPI in August 2007. While MPI has said the business was profitable up to December, changes to the working practices were needed to sustain profitability.
Unite found the proposed changes unacceptable and its members at the firm voted in favour of strike action.
Dolan has said that action by the unions and its members led to the decision to close the company. However, the union blames Dolan for ramping up the dispute prior to the closure, which has put 287 staff out of work.
Ex-B&T staff continue to picket the site in Frome
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Comments
gary brake - 08 May 2008
ok is this good or bad?
ginger dyer - 08 May 2008
guess dolan will not be getting the knighthood he was after for services to british print, i say good riddance to the bloke. problem is ,he will just go off and ruin someone elses life.
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 08 May 2008
im back
Mark Hutton - 08 May 2008
This is good!
It should mean access to personel information and a proper and appropriate official to deal with queries from former employees and any other interested parties.
This should remove control from Dolan/MPI and put it in the hands of a trusted and competent authority.
The Hadron collider - 08 May 2008
Anyone who is employed by dolan watch out the man is not interested in the print trade. you will be next. friary press is now on its knees after loosing most of its customers.
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 08 May 2008
makes his statements 2 weeks to be liquidated look rather stupid now!
dolan out
dolan out
dolan out
ginger dyer - 08 May 2008
gary the good news is that money owed will be paid by the government, the bad news is that it will not belong before its a building site.
STEVEN ROGERS - 08 May 2008
Goodman Bayliss watch out your next.
Looks like we are on the last lap everyone, keep up the fight get to the picket line we need you even if it is only to wave goodbye to DOLANS ASSOCIATES as they are asked to leave the flags will be flying high three cheers to everyone who believed we could do it
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 08 May 2008
john peel - 08 May 2008
Agree with you Steve but you should have left out the
" CIATE " out of DOLANS ASSO" CIATE" S
Mark Hutton - 08 May 2008
Mike Dolan - the Phil Spector of print management!
Jon Fennell - 08 May 2008
Timebomb mind your language, admin is good news as you guys now become creditors, has anyone made contact with the admistrators to discuss unpaid wages?
Have Unite made contact with FOCs at other MPI sites, the bad press is likely to have damaged sales, which will put the group under pressure.
Have heard bits on GB and Friary, which are not favourable and could mean the collapse of MPI.
At least you are out of the way of Dolan and in the hands od Admin, they should be sympathetic to your cause, just make sure they know you exist.
Dolan has been playing for time, you could be right he has been using casuals, can it be proved beyond doubt. If it can this needs to be pointed out to admin as well as it could lead to misappropriation of funds (shifting the book), maybe the tax man would also like a dig.
It all depends how clever he has been.
john peel - 08 May 2008
I cannot belive that Dolan has been so clever that no-one can pin any wrong doing on him, wrong enough to see him in big trouble. he may think that he has mine swept his every step in his monumentous part in the falll of Butler and Tanner, but there is no such thing as the perfect crime. Dolan and MPI, I hope you rot in hell
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 08 May 2008
fair shout john and i agree with you dolan rot in hell
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 08 May 2008
does this mean i cant fire my coke and mentos rockets at the security staff?
STEVEN ROGERS - 08 May 2008
ticking timebomb (GARY) Oggie says mind your language nd lay off the security.
Jon Fennel on behalf of all theFOCs thank you for the turnaround and all the info we are gratefull for your help.
Can you give us any info on Friary and GB that might help if you dont want to post it we can arrange a phone no for you. Thanks again
Everybody else reading this get on that picket line now!
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 08 May 2008
whose gary?
STEVEN ROGERS - 08 May 2008
who ever oggie says cool it
lets just do whats needed we want what is just so keep it up everyone we will never be defeated
Jon Fennell - 08 May 2008
steven read your private mail
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 08 May 2008
so much for the freedom of speech
STEVEN ROGERS - 08 May 2008
Thanks Jon
I have read the e-mail keep in touch we need all the help you can give us thank you
out of order - 09 May 2008
At last, it appears at the high court that you can't play god and run companies into the ground and leave people penniless. I hope he gets what he deserves, clint
kba topdog kba topdog - 09 May 2008
let this be a lesson to any future companies......STEER CLEAR OF MPI..... i was at an interview this week with a company who had the sense to deflect dolans clumsy advances a couple of years ago.....hope now the print world will avoid mpi and he can go back to bucks fizz after show party!!!!!(my opinion) UNITED WE STAND!!!!!
Mark Hutton - 09 May 2008
Butler & Tanner Printers LTD had to be pushed into administration by Unite to allow the former employees the chance to get access to their records and paperwork. It also gives anyone wishing to make an approach to the business the chance to deal with a proper and trustworthy authority. As a former printer all my records of employment were trapped within the offices at Caxton Rd with no clear sign of when they would be released and obviously no help or co-operation from Mike Dolan/MPI who seemed to be pursuing a petty revenge against the redundant workforce.
mark hamblin - 09 May 2008
thank god finally it seams dolan is now back in his hole for good .... take him to the law lords and let them do thier worst
kba topdog kba topdog - 09 May 2008
dolan??? booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
i wonder if we will hear any more lies from dolan now?
steven fisher - 09 May 2008
Glad to hear that Dolan has done the right thing
Mike Kavanagh - 09 May 2008
I'm a headhunter looking for some good sales guys from executive up to director level - if you're ex-B&T and looking for something new, please call me on (01329) 288688.
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
STEVEN FISHER id hardly say hes done the right thing i wondered how long it would be till we heard from you again. Please tell me your opinion on this whole scenario and also what your job in the industry is the guys on the picket line have been wondering.
i would also like to pint you to sum previous comments of yours
steven fisher - 01 May 2008
The staff at B&T don't have a clue about business, I belived B&T went in to administration to lose the pension fund ( so you should all blame the old owners of B&T regarding your pension fund ) The MPI group brought it out of administration without the pensions so how can Dolan be blamed ?????????
I agree with Fennell the union's are to blame along with all the staff in the union.
Things are changing in the print trade and to make money packages have to change ( longer hours, pay cuts etc )
All you have lost now !!!
steven fisher - 01 May 2008
Oh well thats life, shit happens time to move on with your lives, people like Dolan don't lose he will be safe as houses.
steven fisher - 02 May 2008
Come on people its time to move on
john peel - 09 May 2008
Steven Fisher I wish that you would move on -- off this board and resume your duty as Press officer of the Mike Dolan fan club
Jon Fennell - 09 May 2008
Steven have a read
dave marshall - 09 May 2008
If there are any clients out there who need someone to complete your orders give me a call on 01256 796503
steve printer - 09 May 2008
Look out Unsecured creditors.
Also, are the workers not treated as preferential creditors?
john gale - 09 May 2008
You can claim your lost money now so come on its time to move on
reggie reynolds - 09 May 2008
inmy opinion fisher you are a prat and keep your stupid pathetic thoughts to yourself and crawl back under your stone. we have enough on our plate already without you saying stupid things. come down to the picket line and around frome and see how we are all affected by this person.
reggie reynolds - 09 May 2008
and mr gale we will move on when justice has been done
steven fisher - 09 May 2008
Time to get a life, Dolan has done all he can now
kba topdog kba topdog - 09 May 2008
wonder how mr dolan would look banged up?
steven fisher - 09 May 2008
he would not get banged for this, come on people get a life and move on
Jack Sheperd - 09 May 2008
Be very careful with Hacker Young they are very tricky and not to be trusted.
Just remember that MPI are paying their fees until the creditors meeting.
I speak from personal experience.
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
i notice you took a real look at my questions STEVEN FISHER come on reveal yourself as the class A pillock you really are!
steven fisher - 09 May 2008
come on ticking timebomb your all month, what is your problem ? Dolan has done what you all wanted
john gale - 09 May 2008
I think now MPI has put the company down you should all try and move on, it is very hard I have been there but you cant do ant more
kba topdog kba topdog - 09 May 2008
fisher...soon......very soon!
Jack Sheperd - 09 May 2008
I don't know who you are Mr Fisher but what ever the rights or wrongs of this sad matter I think the staff need better treatment than you are prepared to offer.
Nearly 300 people are out of work, the problems of B&T are indicitive of the print industry as a whole.
I am sure that neither side wanted a collapse but we are where we are.
Bluntly put "if you have nothing helpful to say than say nothing"
Andy Janes - 09 May 2008
It is very sad on what has happened but you can't do anymore now, I do think that fisher does have a point in somw way but its not good rubbing it in
reggie reynolds - 09 May 2008
fisher you in my opinion of course are a pillock who hasnt a clue please keep your ridiculous comments to yourself I am a reasonable man but you p--- me and every B+T employee off
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
how can he have a point? please point me to 1 thing he has said that makes any sense the mans a pillock he obviously gets off on it
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
my point exactly
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
ah how interesting if you click on steven fisher you see all the posts hes put up here are a selection of the others
steven fisher
Joined on 04-30-2008
Posts 15
RE: MGP Chromocraft bought out of administration
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David Burgess is bang out of order, I can't belived he has f*cked it all up when Nycourt was trading for a number of years making good profits .
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05-09-2008 03:40 PM In reply to
Andy Janes
Joined on 04-30-2008
Posts 7
RE: MGP Chromocraft bought out of administration
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I agree with Fisher, I got told that the Burgess took aload of money out before it went down ! Can anyone confirm
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05-09-2008 03:59 PM In reply to
john gale
Joined on 05-09-2008
Posts 3
RE: MGP Chromocraft bought out of administration
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I was told that Myles Bunyard has brought it out of admin !!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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05-09-2008 04:16 PM In reply to
steven fisher
Joined on 04-30-2008
Posts 15
RE: MGP Chromocraft bought out of administration
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Just been told John that Bunyard is part of the new team at MGP
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05-09-2008 04:36 PM In reply to
Andy Janes
Joined on 04-30-2008
Posts 7
RE: MGP Chromocraft bought out of administration
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God help all of you if Bunyard is there
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seems our friends janes and fisher know each other
reggie reynolds - 09 May 2008
well said jack shepherd for your comments involving mr fisher
meer kat - 09 May 2008
he has no point he talks utter bxxxxxks
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
i think this shows my previous comment to be true
"so what is it with you possibly u have been shafted before only now its happening to someone else you find it highly amusing"
meer kat - 09 May 2008
they both talk bxxxxxks ohhhhhhhhh yes
reggie reynolds - 09 May 2008
fisher please come and talk to us in person on picket line
meer kat - 09 May 2008
here here mr reynolds
steven fisher - 09 May 2008
ok people im coming down
reggie reynolds - 09 May 2008
we are waiting fisher
meer kat - 09 May 2008
wonder if fisher and janes were them two old geezers off the muppet show???????what were they called?????
BT Meatman - 09 May 2008
Your more than welcome down the line fish face come on down bring your army !!!!
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
u mean Statler and Waldorf meer kat
BT Meatman - 09 May 2008
Well said meerkat who does he think he is all mouth no action Dolans right hand man i reckon wink wink
BT Meatman - 09 May 2008
Thats the ones t t what a pair of plebs they were
meer kat - 09 May 2008
get your arse down the picket line fishman you halibut
meer kat - 09 May 2008
and bring doghnut dolan with yaaaaa cheers kid
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
im gonna miss all this
kba topdog kba topdog - 09 May 2008
wot is the new b&ts website???
meer kat - 09 May 2008
he must be playing with his toys now hes gone very quiet!
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 09 May 2008
playing with something
meer kat - 09 May 2008
dont give it out on ere dont want idiots like fisher on there
mark hamblin - 09 May 2008
guess wot
i think trouts should stick to eatin fly's
STEVEN ROGERS - 09 May 2008
To John Fisher
Thanks for e-mail have sent direct reply to you keep in touch
The Hadron collider - 10 May 2008
it's obviously one of dolans kids sticking up for daddy. christ, he had enough of their pics run off on the digi press...........
mark hamblin - 10 May 2008
and its funny how all the nice new flat screens have been replaced with old moniters///////// insignificant i know but just sums them up
reggie reynolds - 10 May 2008
why were my wifes comments taken off she never swore
kba topdog kba topdog - 10 May 2008
yeah a few of mine have been wiped in all reg........
dolan.........the time is a comin....
kba topdog kba topdog - 10 May 2008
giz a job
Mrs C - 10 May 2008
To whoever said all B&T staff are a waste of space....
HOW DARE YOU!
You have no idea what the B&T staff and their families have been through over the last few months. My husband is ill because of all the stress we've been through. We have a mortgage to pay and no means to pay it at the moment. They are all nearly 2 months wage in arrears now. Word was that the 'redundancy' letter may have even been illegal as it didn't come from the administrators which meant we couldn't have claimed a penny from anyone. We have mortgage insurance (thank god) but I know many families don't have that. My husband had plans but thanks to Dolan's incompetence what he actually wants to do with his life is not possible.
Think before you 'speak' in future
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 11 May 2008
mrs c i 100% agree and fair play to ya this fisher bloke is a complete knob shank i hope ur husband is better soon none of us deserved this. We all tried as much as we could to make this company as profitable again as we can, unfortunatly dolan doesnt obviously have a shred of common sense............tosser.
My fellow colleagues i just wanted to say its been a pleasure working with you all thanks to all who have helped me through my personal problems i would love to keep in touch with as many of you as possible.
A massive thankyou to the union reps for there support through this difficult time for all of us you have been shit hot. To everyone who turned up on the picket line and gave support even if it was only an hour here or there for all those who didnt u missed out it was a good laugh and a great last memory of butler and tanner.
I hope to see you all soon this maybe my last comment on printweek as ticking timebomb is now retiring i will keep an eye on it but if we get slagged off again i maybe forced to come out of retirement all the best in the future to one and all.
YES IM PISSED
Natasha Porter - 11 May 2008
Steven Fisher, who the hell are you?? Do you know us personally? I would suggest you refrain from making such idiotic comments. It has been a tough time for us all, so please do not try and put the boot in!
ticking timebomb mk2 you cant get rid of me - 11 May 2008
you tell him tash
kba topdog kba topdog - 11 May 2008
we were waiting for u fisher on the picket line like u suggested....and guess what....yep shock horror the snake didnt show.....what a surprise....but we have our research team working round the clock!!!!
STEVEN ROGERS - 11 May 2008
we think we have found out who fisher is
a printer from potts
got friends looking out for us so he has no place to hide
better watch your back fisher
Mark Hutton - 11 May 2008
Shouldn't get too excited by this guy Fisher, people, he's just some non-entity with a giant chip on his shoulder. Blokes like that get off on the attention - best ignored!
These are the blokes that ruined our company - Mike (Mr Burns) Dolan, Martin (Backhander) Daniel, Jeff ( the Bulls****er) Heyes and Ben (Benjie)Crozier.
Concentrate on them highlight what they did and warn people of the dubious management practices they brought to your workplace.
I just logged on to the MPI website http://www.media-print.co.uk/
it just about sums them up - i'll paraphrase it's content -"sell us your business".
That's it nothing else.
The Happy Shoppers of print venture capitalism - good riddance to bad rubbish.
BT Meatman - 11 May 2008
Well said Tasha tell him straight !!!
Matt Whipp - 12 May 2008
We've removed a lot of unconstructive comments by Steven Fisher. Please email me matt at printweek.com if this reoccurs. We try to keep these forums a useful, open and helpful platform and your help in maintaining this is always appreciated.
Kind regards
Matt Whipp
steven fisher - 12 May 2008
Thats not very nice, its my point of view
Matt Whipp - 12 May 2008
It's called trolling, and while we accept that everyone is entitled to their point of view, simply baiting other users of the forum is unacceptable.
Hugh Jaynousse - 14 May 2008
I feel really dissapointed that such a fine English company has been closed down. But also dissapointed that all the animosity and blame seems to be directed at Mike Dolan. Surely, Unite should be asked to account for thier actions, because of thier inability or refusal to make any concessions on the proposed changes to outdated working practises 287 union members are now out of a job and England loses its foremost colour book printing company. As a labour voter I find it strange praising Margaret Thatchers purge on the Unions. Thank God she took them to task or this country would have been dead and buried a long time ago. Unite should be call U shite!
reggie reynolds - 14 May 2008
shut up you idiot keep your stupid thoughts to yourself we are not interested my opinion of course
Mark Hutton - 14 May 2008
Dear H J you obviously haven't kept up with the developments on this site.
The cuts were offered but were tied in with an inappropriate and unaceptable commercial contract that is what caused the dispute. That contract was put together by Mike Dolan which is why he is getting the brunt of the blame.
Unite have been very helpful and honest in all their dealings with the workforce and continue to chase up owed wages and missing pension deductions.
Who you vote for or who your heroines are is of no concern to me - just get your facts right.
Hugh Jaynousse - 15 May 2008
Dear MH
When you refer to 'an inappropriate and unaceptable commercial contract' does that include the request to keep the presses running during lunch hours? I don't think it unreasonable to expect to keep the presses rolling while machine operators take thier lunch especially considering the size of the presses and the time it takes to make ready on a KBA do you?
I put it to you sir that you and the unions are deluding yourselves if you think that the contract offered was unreasonable it's time for you and the unions to come and join the 21st century and reality!
Stuart North - 24 May 2008
Hugh Jaynousse
Butler and Tanner operated running meal breaks for years on every press including the KBAs 24 hours a day.
I put it to you sir that you are also completely ignorant of the facts regarding the contract as it would of removed 21st century basic employment rights.
Stuart North
senior union rep
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