Death of company director Andy Ross sends Thornycroft (1862) into administration

Thornycroft (1862), the parent company of Newage Transmissions, Cadman (Contractors) and Saville Tractors, has gone into administration following the death of founding director Andy Ross in a shooting accident. Ross was killed on a 720-acre estate in Scotland owned by his company. His fellow directors in the family-run firm called in administrator BDO Stoy Hayward to provide stability.

BDO said all the subsidiary companies are running as normal and it is conducting an immediate review of the business including the head office operation in Huntingdon. A spokeswoman said no redundancies have been announced, but could not confirm Thornycroft’s liabilities, which have been put by some at £13m.

Thornycroft headed a consortium that recently took control of Case dealer Saville Tractors. Case said that as the takeover took place in early August, Thornycroft has not used any of its credit lines and therefore if the dealership is forced into liquidation, Case still owns any unsold machines in the yard. However, Case Europe's vice president, George Russell also said: "Case is more than satisfied with our past and current financial arrangement with Saville Tractors Limited. We will continue to provide products, parts and support services in the interest of Case customers and future customers to help Savilles continue to develop their expanded territory."

Newage supplies transmissions to a number of plant manufacturers, including Thwaites dumpers, while Essex-based earthmoving, plant hire and crane specialist Cadman (Contracts) has recently ordered £3m worth of equipment from Caterpillar, JCB and Terex. Again both companies are trading as usual.

Ross was reported to have put his gun between his feet to search for something in his pockets, while out on a duck shoot. The gun went off, hitting him in the side of the head.

(Revised on 11/09/06 to incorporate quoted response from Case.)