YM fallout continues to dominate headlines in May

06 June 2022

Receivership & administration

Unsurprisingly, this month’s ranking of most read articles was heavily dominated by the fallout from the collapse of the various YM Group companies. And while there was some good news, for example in the shape of a new beginning for York Mailing and, separately, First 4’s major expansion, there were precious few other reasons to be cheerful in May’s listicle. Roll on June!

1 Drama at Lettershop as landlord takes charge 8,332 clicks
Events at troubled YM Group took a dramatic turn over the bank holiday weekend when the landlord repossessed Lettershop’s Leeds site.

2 Walstead brings Newbould into fold after YM deal 6,442 clicks
Walstead has enlisted the help of former YM Group chief operating officer Mike Newbould Junior to help pinpoint customers looking for future print supply options after YM’s web division collapsed.

3 Walstead to reopen York Mailing 5,554 clicks
Walstead Group will restart the York Mailing site next month as it tests the waters over customer demand in the commercial web market.

4 Industry awaits Walstead decision on what's next for YM web kit 4,904 clicks
Walstead’s deal to buy at least seven web offset presses from the collapsed YM web division has resulted in feverish industry speculation about what happens next.

5 Walstead seals deal for YM web assets 4,892 clicks
Walstead Group has acquired most of the assets of YM Group’s shuttered web offset businesses in administration – and could reboot one of the factories if customer support makes it viable.

6 Creditors owed millions by failed YM firms 4,512 clicks
YM Group owed Pricoa £51m when its three web offset businesses collapsed into administration in March, and while YM’s directors are yet to provide a statement of affairs the initial estimates from administrators at FRP Advisory state that unsecured creditors – including huge inter-company sums – are owed more than £61m.

7 WPCF warns on paper shortage endangering industry rebound 3,207 clicks
Members of the World Print & Communication Forum (WPCF) have warned that the current paper shortages will have severe repercussions in the supply of print products for all economic markets and are endangering the sector's rebound after the coronavirus pandemic.

8 Inflation: printers “hammered from all directions” 3,196 clicks
Printers have reported price increases well beyond headline figures, as consumer inflation rises to its highest point in 40 years.

9 First 4 relocates in major expansion 2,820 clicks
First 4 Print Finishing is poised to move to a new facility that is more than five times the size of its existing factory.

10 Walstead adds Telegraph weekend work to roster 2,818 clicks
Walstead Group has sealed a deal to print The Telegraph’s weekend supplements with production set to switch later this month.