Norton Motorcycles goes into administration

BDO Accounting Group has been announced as administrator to Norton Motorcycle Holdings and Norton Motorcycles UK, as well as two other companies owned by Stuart Garner; Donington Hall Estates and the Priest House Hotel.

Garner bought the company in 2008 and at their Castle Donington base produces a number of high-quality machines, including the Commando, Dominator and Atlas. The company has also had a number of attempts at building a road race bike that was capable of winning the TT. Although never quite successful, they did manage to achieve the fastest lap of the Island by a British motorcycle, with a lap of over 130mph.

The current financial crisis has been instigated by being pursued by the HMRC for £300,000 in unpaid taxes. The future of the 100 employees currently working at the Donington site is now in question. Lee Causer, a partner at BDO, said: “Our job is to determine and execute the most appropriate strategy as swiftly as possible to protect creditors’ interests, bearing in mind the need to minimise distress for all parties. We are currently assessing the position of each of the companies in order to conclude upon the options available to them and the most appropriate way forward.”