XMPR is reborn amid debt crisis

Retail group XMPR plc has gone into receivership and a subsidiary, XMPR International, has been bought by MICE Group, the design and build specialist for museums, interiors, conferences and exhibitions.

According to Jack McCann, XMPR International’s financial controller, XMPR plc is in the hands of a receiver, Begbies. The move follows months of financial problems for the group. Begbies says XMPR plc owes 360 000 to creditors and 91 700 to the bank.

“XMPR International was a dormant subsidiary of XMPR plc. that never traded. It was bought by MICE from Begbies,” says McCann.

Six of XMPR’s eleven staff have moved to the new company in east London. The others resigned, confirms McCann, adding that there were no redundancies.

Rob Davie, XMPR’s managing director, has been appointed to the same post by the MICE Group. McCann will also retain his former title.

McCann stresses that XMPR International is “a separate venture. It’s now part of MICE and we’re designing a completely new identity for ourselves”.

MICE chairman Michael Curley confirms XMPR International will work with the MICE in-house design team: “This is a logical purchase, as we own an in-store display manufacturer and an exhibits manufacturer.”