Homeform files for administration

Homeform Group, owner of the Dolphin Bathrooms, Moben Kitchens, Kitchen Direct and Sharps bedroom furniture brands in the UK, has called in the administrators. The company operates 160 showrooms in the UK and employs a workforce of 3 000, 1 500 of whom are fitters and designers. Since 2007 the company has been owned by Sun Capital Partners, an American private equity firm. It is understood that it hopes to shut down or sell off the Dolphin and Moben brands whilst keeping the other brands. Explaining Homeform’s problems it said that the company has been “severely affected by the rising levels of unemployment in the UK and a very difficult housing market”.