D&A Media Bristol has entered administration, with some of its customers and employees transferred to a new company set up by its former owners.

The Cardiff Docks-based haulage firm appointed administrators on 5 June. Administrator Begbies Traynor then spent the next two weeks liaising with suppliers before it was able to agree a transfer of customers and employees to “two entities”.

This safeguarded around 80 jobs.

The entities are Temp Station and D&A 004. The latter,  D&A 004, is run by directors Richard Grimes and Andrew Emmett - the administrator confirmed that Temp Station, a recruiter, has no connection with these individuals.

Both men are listed at Companies House as the sole shareholders of D&A Media Bristol. Emmett is also listed as sole director of the failed D&A Media Bristol, and Grimes as a former director of the business.

D&A Media Bristol described itself as a “family run business” delivering full and part loads, as well as offering warehouse space. It trunked newspapers such as The Daily Mail, Mirror and The Echo.

In the year to 31 March 2016, its last published accounts, it had a turnover of £8.4m and a pre-tax profit of £419,528.

Huw Powell, Begbies Traynor partner, said: “We are pleased to have been able to assist the suppliers and employees of this company to continue serving its customers.”

Records show that a valid licence for a company called D&A 003 listing Grimes as director and using the same address as D&A Media Bristol and D&A 004, authorises the operation of up to 22 HGVs. This is out of three depots in Cardiff, Swansea and Pontyclun. D&A 003 is listed at Companies House as being in dissolution.

In 2013, D&A Media Bristol bought the assets of D&A Transport Cardiff for £160,000 after the latter company entered administration.

D&A Transport Cardiff's director was Beverley Emmett, mother to Andrew. 

Emmett did not respond to our request for comment.

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