Ian Brown and John Reid of Deloitte were appointed as administrators of Pimpernel International Limited on 3 August and 9 August respectively due to cash flow difficulties following the re-sourcing of production in China.

Pimpernel, which is based in Consett, County Durham, produces a range of high quality tableware, place mats and associated accessories, under the Pimpernel and Cloverleaf brands, as well as producing own label products for department stores and other customers.  The Company has a subsidiary in the US, Pimpernel International Inc., a sourcing office in Hong Kong and has recently completed a custom built manufacturing facility in Thailand as a joint venture with a local Thai company.  The US subsidiary and the joint venture company are not in any form of insolvency procedure.

The administrators are taking steps to stabilise the business in order that it may continue trading. 69 redundancies were announced on 10 August 2006 to reflect current trading conditions. 31 staff remain employed by the Company.

Ian Brown said: “Pimpernel Ltd has a strong customer base and good products. We continue to trade the Company with the support of the remaining staff and are hopeful that we will be able to conclude a sale of the business as a going concern.”

Ends

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Deloitte & Touche LLP is the United Kingdom member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (‘DTT’), a Swiss Verein whose member firms are separate and independent legal entities.  Neither DTT nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other’s acts or omissions.  Services are provided by member firms or their subsidiaries and not by DTT. Deloitte & Touche LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.