BCA parent company enters administration

The catalogue-based bookselling company Book Club Associates has collapsed following the administration of its parent company The Webb Group.

Leeds-based administrators BDO has been appointed to handle the sale of The Webb Group's assets, and has told press it is actively looking for a buyer. Besides BCA, the other companies owned by the Webb Group affected by its administration are Choices UK, Webb Group Limited and Webb Ivory Ltd—with redundancies totalling 58 across all the enterprises.

BDO business restructuring partner Graham Newton said: “Unfortunately the economic climate and difficult trading conditions significantly affected the business. The Joint Administrators are taking all necessary steps to mitigate losses to customers, creditors and stakeholders who are affected by the closure of these companies and, going forward, we will seek to maximise recoveries for the benefit of all creditors.”

Those with outstanding orders at any of the affected retailers have been asked to contact BDO on 01793 698029 or info.webbgroup@bdo.co.uk.

BCA was under the leadership of commercial director Claire Rose and was bought by The Webb Group a year ago; soon after it increased the pagination of BooksDirect and its speciality club catalogue and rebranded its Books for Children product.

BCA was sold by Bertelsmann to Aurelius in 2008.