Property and asset consultants at Lambert Smith Hampton (formerly ES Group) have been appointed to carry out a sale of the assets of a Kent-based recycled newsprint paper manufacturer, after the firm, which was founded in 1922, went into administration on 24 February.

Aylesford Newsprint, which produced more than 400,000 tonnes of recycled newsprint each year, ceased to manufacture following the appointment of administrators from KPMG.  Specialists at LSH have since been instructed by the Administrators to undertake a sale of the news print business’s assets. LSH has confirmed that the sale is likely to consist of a variety of online auctions and private treaty phases. Sale One will take place on 19 May and include internal transport and mobile plant.  Sale Two will take place on 20 May and include engineering and sheet metalworking equipment.  There will be an opportunity to view both sales on 12 and 13 May.  The principal items of machinery to be sold by Private Treaty, in association with John Wilkie Paper Mill Services Ltd, will include 2 paper making machines by Valmet and Beloitte Walmsley together with associated ancillary equipment.  In 1995, £250m was invested in the Valmet paper manufacturing line.

Commenting on the instruction, Mike Hanson (photo), Director at LSH’s Machinery & Business Assets team, said:

“This sale is sadly indicative of a decline in the newsprint industry which has suffered in recent years from over capacity and a tough operational landscape. Despite these unfortunate circumstances, we will use our expertise to undertake a targeted campaign to generate widespread bidder interest and secure a successful sale of Aylesford Newsprint’s assets.”

For further information on the sale, please contact Lambert Smith Hampton (formerly ES Group) on 0207 633 2572

Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) is a national commercial property consultancy. We work with investors, developers and occupiers across the public and private sectors, and we are single-mindedly focused on UK and Irish property markets.

LSH recently acquired ES Group.

For more information, and to see some of the companies we work with, please visit our websites at www.lsh.co.uk, www.lshauctions.co.uk and www.lshinvestmentsales.co.uk.