Hall’s of Broxburn: Vion reject ‘inaccurate’ claims from failed bidder

By GARETH ROSE
Published on 17/10/2012 12:04

THE owner’s of Hall’s of Broxburn have hit out at claims they never intended to keep the company open.

• Vion rejected two offers for the plant

• 1700 workers set to lose jobs in February

Steve Green, managing director of private equity firm Graf Mortgage Corporation, had said he tabled a seven-figure bid for the plant, guantanteeing 1,200 jobs would be saved.

Yesterday he told the The Scotsman that Vion UK, which owns Hall’s, had no intention of seeking a solution. He claimed the bidding process was a “charade at the expense of Scottish jobs”.

However, today, Peter Barr, chairman of Vion UK, hit back.

“Following a series of inaccurate statements and untruths in the media by Mr Steve Green in relation to the Hall’s of Broxburn plant, I would like to provide clarification on a number of points,” he said.

“Mr Green has made reference to ‘a seven-figure bid to buy the factory’ tabled by Graf Mortgage Corporation.

“He makes no mention of his demand that Vion pay him an eight-figure sum, in cash, to take over the business. In addition, he also fails to reference the fact that he asked for all equipment, vehicles, stock and transitional services to be provided to him at no cost, the value of which we would estimate at a similar amount.

“In spite of this demand for tens of millions of pounds, Mr Green has been unwilling to provide us with the most basic information to validate his proposal to safeguard the ongoing employment of the workforce.”

He added: “Mr Green states that he ‘can save the 1,700 jobs’. This statement is in direct contradiction to an email sent to our finance director on Sunday, 14 October, in which he states that ‘reduction in head count at Broxburn would be in the region of 500-800’.