Auto Windscreens
Encyclopedia
Auto Windscreens is a British
automotive glazing company specialising in windshield
repair and replacement. The company was established in 2011 after the collapse of the previous company, which had operated since 1971.
The original company was founded in Chesterfield
, and grew in size to encompass a large network of fitting centres and mobile units, supported by its own manufacturing plant in Chesterfield and distribution centre in Birmingham
. For much of its existence it was the second largest UK windscreen replacement company behind Autoglass
, from whom it took over sponsorship of the Football League Trophy
in 1994. From 2001 to 2008 it was owned by RAC plc
, as RAC Auto Windscreens.
After cash flow problems, in February 2011 it entered administration and then closed, leading to the loss of over 1,000 jobs. The rights to use Auto Windscreens as a brand name and trading style were bought by the present company Trifords Ltd, which sought to continue the business by hiring 250 employees from March 2011.
) Ltd, as company number 01011907. In 1982 it opened its own manufacturing facility in Chesterfield. In 1986 it was purchased by the holding company Heywood Williams, whose businesses portfolio at the time included the UK's largest glass distribution company. In 1988 the company was renamed to just Auto Windscreens Ltd, and in 1989 to Heywood Williams Automotive Ltd. Having sold the glass distribution business in 1990 to Pilkington
, Heywood Williams sold the Auto Windscreens company to HSBC
Private Equity in 1998, for £77.2m, reverting to the name Auto Windscreens Ltd. HSBC left the existing management structure in place, with the intention of a trade sale
or flotation
at a later date.
A trade sale by HSBC followed in 2001, with the company being sold to the group Lex Service plc for £112m. Lex were also the owners of RAC Motoring Services Ltd, one of the largest automotive road-side repair recovery companies in the UK alongside The Automobile Association
, and re-branded and renamed the company as RAC Auto Windscreens and RAC Auto Windscreens Ltd. The takeover positioned the company as the contracted supplier to other Lex Group insurance companies, and expanded the visibility of the RAC brand through the Auto Windscreen's vehicle fleet. Having purchased the RAC business from the Royal Automobile Club
in 1999, Lex Group renamed themselves RAC plc
in 2002. The RAC Auto Windscreens business was included as part of the deal to buy RAC plc by the global insurance group Aviva
in 2005.
In December 2008, as their first UK acquisition, the business was purchased from Aviva by the German private equity company Arques Industries AG, a business restructuring and development specialist, for a "symbolic purchase price". After the purchase, the company reverted to the name Auto Windscreens Ltd and was re-established as an independent brand, with a redesigned logo. In December 2009 the company was sold to Moguntia Invest, a German investment fund controlled by Christian Daumann. Daumann was the Arques executive responsible for their original purchase of the company a year before.
-related delays affected the implementation of a restructuring programme. As the appointed administrators, Deloitte sought to find a source of short term trading capital, pending a sale of the business.
Both before and after the suspension of trading, several other companies took over Auto Windscreen's share of the market, with Autoglass gaining the Aviva contract, as well as National Windscreens, Nationwide Windscreen Services and AA AutoWindshields, being chosen as alternative suppliers by both fleet and private customers.
After failing to find a buyer for the business as a going concern, Deloitte announced on 25 February 2011 that it had been closed and would be liquidated
, with 1,042 staff being made redundant.
On 3 March 2011, it was announced that Trifords Ltd that they had purchased some parts of the former Auto Windscreens business, including the rights to use the Auto Windscreens brand name. See #Auto Windscreens (2011 onwards)
Deloitte put the manufacturing facility in Cheltenham up for sale on 15 March 2011, with a guide price of £1m. If no buyer was found for the site as a whole, then the machinery, stock and materials was to be auctioned off separately, over 28-30 March 2011.
, there was also a distribution centre in Birmingham
, and a customer services call centre
. The company's clients were a mixture of private motorists, car insurers and fleet vehicle operators. As the only UK replacement windscreen specialist with its own manufacturing facility, it could produced and stock its own small batches of standard replacement windows and windscreens to the same specifications as the original equipment manufacturers
, as well as serve as an original manufacturer itself in specialist niche markets such as limousines, hearses and the police, as well as producing value added versions of standard products. It also produced one off products for the vintage and replica markets.
The parent company of Triffords - Markerstudy Insurance knew this was running at a loss and had to wait for the company to go into liquidation to remove all the debt before selecting which parts of the company it wanted to keep under the newly formed umbrella of Triffords Ltd. Favourite staff were to be kept in the circle and were re-employed within minutes of them going into liquidation.
, acting as the title sponsor of the The Football League
's cup competition Football League Trophy
for six seasons, from 1994-95
to 1999-00
. For this period, the competition was officially called the Auto Windscreens Shield, although the name Auto Windscreens trophy was also common. The company had replaced their main UK competitor Autoglass
as the sponsor, with the competition previously known as the Autoglass Trophy. After 2000, the competition became the LDV Vans Trophy.
The company was also a corporate partner (although not main shirt sponsor) of their local football team Chesterfield F.C.
(The Spireites), signing deals in 2008 and 2010.
, Kent. The former sales and marketing director Nigel Davies was appointed managing director of the new company. The trade press speculated the purchase had possibly happened as early as 25 February, based on the resurrection of the old Auto Windscreens website, but with updated company information.
, West Sussex.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
automotive glazing company specialising in windshield
Windshield
The windshield or windscreen of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike or tram is the front window. Modern windshields are generally made of laminated safety glass, a type of treated glass, which consists of two curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer laminated between them for safety, and are glued...
repair and replacement. The company was established in 2011 after the collapse of the previous company, which had operated since 1971.
The original company was founded in Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, and grew in size to encompass a large network of fitting centres and mobile units, supported by its own manufacturing plant in Chesterfield and distribution centre in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. For much of its existence it was the second largest UK windscreen replacement company behind Autoglass
Autoglass
Autoglass is a car-windscreen repair company based in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.-History:In 1971, Windshields was formed in Bedford, and operated across southern England doing mobile repairs. In 1973 the Doulton Group launched Autoglass, which operated across northern England...
, from whom it took over sponsorship of the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
in 1994. From 2001 to 2008 it was owned by RAC plc
RAC plc
RAC Limited is a breakdown company in the United Kingdom supplying products and services for motorists. Initially formed as the "Associate Section" of the Royal Automobile Club, it was incorporated as R.A.C. Motoring Services Ltd. in 1978. It was then sold by the members of the Royal Automobile...
, as RAC Auto Windscreens.
After cash flow problems, in February 2011 it entered administration and then closed, leading to the loss of over 1,000 jobs. The rights to use Auto Windscreens as a brand name and trading style were bought by the present company Trifords Ltd, which sought to continue the business by hiring 250 employees from March 2011.
History
The company was founded by an entrepreneur in 1971. It was incorporated on 20 May as Auto Windscreens (ChesterfieldChesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
) Ltd, as company number 01011907. In 1982 it opened its own manufacturing facility in Chesterfield. In 1986 it was purchased by the holding company Heywood Williams, whose businesses portfolio at the time included the UK's largest glass distribution company. In 1988 the company was renamed to just Auto Windscreens Ltd, and in 1989 to Heywood Williams Automotive Ltd. Having sold the glass distribution business in 1990 to Pilkington
Pilkington
Pilkington Group Limited is a multinational glass manufacturing company headquartered in St Helens, United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of the Japan-based NSG Group...
, Heywood Williams sold the Auto Windscreens company to HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
Private Equity in 1998, for £77.2m, reverting to the name Auto Windscreens Ltd. HSBC left the existing management structure in place, with the intention of a trade sale
Trade sale
A trade and or sale is a common way of exit to a trade buyer. This allows the management to withdraw from the business and may open up the prospect of collaboration on a larger projects....
or flotation
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
at a later date.
A trade sale by HSBC followed in 2001, with the company being sold to the group Lex Service plc for £112m. Lex were also the owners of RAC Motoring Services Ltd, one of the largest automotive road-side repair recovery companies in the UK alongside The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association , a British motoring association founded in 1905 was demutualised in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans and motoring advice, and other services...
, and re-branded and renamed the company as RAC Auto Windscreens and RAC Auto Windscreens Ltd. The takeover positioned the company as the contracted supplier to other Lex Group insurance companies, and expanded the visibility of the RAC brand through the Auto Windscreen's vehicle fleet. Having purchased the RAC business from the Royal Automobile Club
Royal Automobile Club
The Royal Automobile Club is a private club and is not to be confused with RAC plc, a motorists' organisation, which it formerly owned.It has two club houses, one in London at 89-91 Pall Mall, and the other in the countryside at Woodcote Park, Surrey, next to the City of London Freemen's School...
in 1999, Lex Group renamed themselves RAC plc
RAC plc
RAC Limited is a breakdown company in the United Kingdom supplying products and services for motorists. Initially formed as the "Associate Section" of the Royal Automobile Club, it was incorporated as R.A.C. Motoring Services Ltd. in 1978. It was then sold by the members of the Royal Automobile...
in 2002. The RAC Auto Windscreens business was included as part of the deal to buy RAC plc by the global insurance group Aviva
Aviva
Aviva plc is a global insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the sixth-largest insurance company in the world measured by net premium income and has 53 million customers in 28 countries...
in 2005.
In December 2008, as their first UK acquisition, the business was purchased from Aviva by the German private equity company Arques Industries AG, a business restructuring and development specialist, for a "symbolic purchase price". After the purchase, the company reverted to the name Auto Windscreens Ltd and was re-established as an independent brand, with a redesigned logo. In December 2009 the company was sold to Moguntia Invest, a German investment fund controlled by Christian Daumann. Daumann was the Arques executive responsible for their original purchase of the company a year before.
Administration
On 14 February 2011, the company entered administration, suspending trading and sending staff home. With a turnover of £63m, the company had run out of cash after a drop in business leading to an unnamed creditor filing a winding up order. Cash-flow problems had arisen after their former owner Aviva, still a major client, terminated their supply contract, and after ITInformation technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
-related delays affected the implementation of a restructuring programme. As the appointed administrators, Deloitte sought to find a source of short term trading capital, pending a sale of the business.
Both before and after the suspension of trading, several other companies took over Auto Windscreen's share of the market, with Autoglass gaining the Aviva contract, as well as National Windscreens, Nationwide Windscreen Services and AA AutoWindshields, being chosen as alternative suppliers by both fleet and private customers.
Liquidation
07/02/2011 Trifords Ltd were formed as a business by the parent company Markerstudy Insurance, the details of the purpose of this business are still a little vague but by the dates we can see, it was ready for the purchase of AW before the liquidators were called.After failing to find a buyer for the business as a going concern, Deloitte announced on 25 February 2011 that it had been closed and would be liquidated
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
, with 1,042 staff being made redundant.
On 3 March 2011, it was announced that Trifords Ltd that they had purchased some parts of the former Auto Windscreens business, including the rights to use the Auto Windscreens brand name. See #Auto Windscreens (2011 onwards)
Deloitte put the manufacturing facility in Cheltenham up for sale on 15 March 2011, with a guide price of £1m. If no buyer was found for the site as a whole, then the machinery, stock and materials was to be auctioned off separately, over 28-30 March 2011.
Operations
At the time of administration, the company had 1,000 staff, and operated a fleet of 550 fitting vehicles and 68 fitting centres. Based in ChesterfieldChesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, there was also a distribution centre in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and a customer services call centre
Call centre
A call centre or call center is a centralised office used for the purpose of receiving and transmitting a large volume of requests by telephone. A call centre is operated by a company to administer incoming product support or information inquiries from consumers. Outgoing calls for telemarketing,...
. The company's clients were a mixture of private motorists, car insurers and fleet vehicle operators. As the only UK replacement windscreen specialist with its own manufacturing facility, it could produced and stock its own small batches of standard replacement windows and windscreens to the same specifications as the original equipment manufacturers
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
, as well as serve as an original manufacturer itself in specialist niche markets such as limousines, hearses and the police, as well as producing value added versions of standard products. It also produced one off products for the vintage and replica markets.
The parent company of Triffords - Markerstudy Insurance knew this was running at a loss and had to wait for the company to go into liquidation to remove all the debt before selecting which parts of the company it wanted to keep under the newly formed umbrella of Triffords Ltd. Favourite staff were to be kept in the circle and were re-employed within minutes of them going into liquidation.
Football sponsorship
The company was involved in English football sponsorshipEnglish football sponsorship
Corporate sponsorship of major English football competitions dates back to the early 1980s, although minor competitions such as the Watney Cup and Texaco Cup were sponsored during the early 1970s....
, acting as the title sponsor of the The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
's cup competition Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
for six seasons, from 1994-95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
to 1999-00
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
. For this period, the competition was officially called the Auto Windscreens Shield, although the name Auto Windscreens trophy was also common. The company had replaced their main UK competitor Autoglass
Autoglass
Autoglass is a car-windscreen repair company based in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.-History:In 1971, Windshields was formed in Bedford, and operated across southern England doing mobile repairs. In 1973 the Doulton Group launched Autoglass, which operated across northern England...
as the sponsor, with the competition previously known as the Autoglass Trophy. After 2000, the competition became the LDV Vans Trophy.
The company was also a corporate partner (although not main shirt sponsor) of their local football team Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
(The Spireites), signing deals in 2008 and 2010.
History
On 3 March 2011, it was announced that Trifords Ltd had purchased some parts of the former Auto Windscreens business including the rights to the brand name Auto Windscreens, and the freehold on three sites including the Chesterfield headquarters. The new company was incorporated as Trifords Limited (No. 07518924). Trifords was part of the Markerstudy Group, a privately owned composite financial services organisation established in 2001 and based in SundridgeSundridge
Sundridge may mean:* Sundridge, Ontario, a village in Ontario, Canada* Sundridge, Kent, a village in Kent, England* Sundridge, London, suburb in the London Borough of Bromley southeast London....
, Kent. The former sales and marketing director Nigel Davies was appointed managing director of the new company. The trade press speculated the purchase had possibly happened as early as 25 February, based on the resurrection of the old Auto Windscreens website, but with updated company information.
Operations
The new company planned to initially create 250 jobs and grow the business under the already established and recognised brand, trading as Auto Windscreens. It would continue to serve both fleet, insurance and private customers, with the operation being complemented by the parent Markerstudy Group's existing core insurance businesses. While the freehold to the old company's Chesterfield HQ was bought by Triford's, the new company was registered to an office in CrawleyCrawley
Crawley is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is south of Charing Cross, north of Brighton and Hove, and northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census.The area has...
, West Sussex.