Rumours that Birds Groupage Services, which trades as Birds Transport & Logistics, had closed last Friday (9 December), have been dispelled by the firm’s MD.

The haulier, which has its headquarters in Parsonage Street, Oldbury, has been struggling for some time.

In its most recent abbreviated accounts to 30 September 2015, auditor RSM raised concerns over Birds’ future.

The accounts showed that despite parent firm Ballyvesey Holdings’ waiver of a £4m intercompany loan, the haulier made a loss of £22,109.

This was an improvement compared with pre-tax losses of £211,000 and £397,000 in 2014 and 2013 respectively. Annual turnover was not published.

A source told Motortransport.co.uk that its UK to Ireland work was being handled by sister firm Montgomery Transport.

Its UK domestic work, along with some trucks and trailers, was understood to have been transferred to Leicester’s Widdowson Group.

Some of Birds’ staff of 100 drivers and 20 office staff are thought to have been offered redundancy, others employment elsewhere.

However, Birds MD Patrice Schneider said: “Birds is not closing. We are reorganising the business and moving our operational centre to Leicester with a depot in Oldbury.”

He added: “As part of the reorganisation, some of the work could not carry on and we offered placement in other part of the group to those who wanted it.”

The tie-up is understood to be with Widdowson Logistics, which was involved pre-pack administration earlier this year.

While the terms of the arrangement are unknown, Birds Transport Leicester was incorporated at Companies House on the 14 October.

Its registered address is the same as Widdowson’s at Mill Lane Industrial Estate, Glenfield.

Birds Transport Leicester’s director is listed as Demis Armen Ohandjanian. Ohandjanian is a representative of Malta registered HLD Group, which is the ultimate owner of Widdowson Logistics.

David Sheldon, chairman of West Bromwich-based Sheldon Clayton, confirmed it had added some of Birds’ Birmingham Pallet-Track postcode to its WS and WV work for the network, effective last Friday. Sheldon added that he has taken on seven Birds staff members.

Birds holds an O-licence authorising up to 112 vehicles and 175 trailers at its Parsonage Street, Oldbury site, which is owned by Ballyvesey Holdings.

Ballyvesey and Montgomery Transport declined to comment.

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