FACE-TO-FACE WITH REALITY

摘要

If one word describes the new atmosphere at Alexander Dennis, it is 'reality'. The manufacturer that emerged from the ashes of TransBus International has come face-to-face with a lot of it over the past six months and recognises that it will stand or fall on the quality of its products and by living within its means in a depressed market. The company that bought TransBus's bus, fire appliance, parts and service business on 21 May is owned 40% by Edinburgh merchant bank Noble Grossart, 30% by Charlotte Ventures (Scottish metals magnate David Murray's private investment company) and 15% each by Stagecoach founders Brian Souter and Ann Gloag. Day-to-day management is firmly in the hands of two former Alexander managing directors, Bill Cameron and Jim Hastie, who have returned to Falkirk respectively as the company's chairman and chief executive.