Stanian Transport rescued from administration after costly failed takeover

One of the longest-standing haulage businesses in Manchester has been saved after it entered administration following a failed attempt to purchase another firm, according to its director.

General haulier Stanian Transport, which held an O-licence for 35 trucks and 50 trailers, appointed administrators Alvarez & Marsal Europe on 18 November.

Director Theresa Chambers told MT that its failure was not down to anything it had done wrong and that it had been trading “as normal”.

But she added: “The catalyst was the aborted sale of another haulier.

“They were selling up, they wanted someone to buy it off them. We did due diligence, put the money up and purchased it and then they came back and said they’d changed their mind.”

Chambers declined to name the business but said that Stanian Transport had spent £800,000 on the deal and it had signed all the relevant documents.

She added that it was now in litigation with the company.

However, Stanian Transport’s business and assets have now been sold to HNC Transport, which Chambers said has “a link” with Stanian and jobs have been preserved.

“They have a different O-licence and have been trading four years, so they’re a smaller company but there’s a link between the companies,” she said. “We have had to move to new premises.

“We’re a family business; it’s been good to save all the jobs. We kept our customers [albeit] not as many vehicles per customer now. We will build it back up again, but probably to around 25 [vehicles]."