A Victorian caravan maker that employs hundreds of people has gone into voluntary administration, with urgent efforts under way to fulfil customer orders.<\/p>\n
Essential Caravans appointed voluntary administrators Paul Allen and Glenn Franklin last week, 11 years after their first caravan rolled out the factory door.<\/p>\n
The award-winning Australian manufacturer celebrated making its 5000th caravan in 2023.<\/p>\n
The move follows an operational restructure that shifted the company\u2019s manufacturing operations to a single facility at Pakenham, in Melbourne\u2019s outer southeast, as management finds a way forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssential Caravans primary focus during this transition remains on its valued customers, dealer network, and order fulfilment,\u201d a spokesman said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe administrators and management team are conducting an immediate review of all current customer caravan builds and delivery schedules to minimise disruption to buyers and dealership partners. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is the intention that all current orders will be fulfilled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Four other caravan business have collapsed in Australia within 12 months.<\/p>\n
Maverick Campers chief executive Matt Winen ceased operations earlier this month after a financier seized all its stock forcing them into liquidation<\/p>\n
Mr Winen said on social media that Australia\u2019s economic conditions were having a roll-on effect for businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know the financial problems that Australia is having, the world\u2019s having, oil prices, fuel prices, every expense in our household is going up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been significant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Winen said he had no choice but to go into liquidation after he thought they had negotiated a plan to juggle a $500,000 debt.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the scheme of things, in a business of our size, that\u2019s not a lot of money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He said financiers contacted the company saying it would be repossessing all of its caravans at showrooms in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Mr Winen said they had 72 orders in the books, with customers left in limbo, but insisted that it had no debts to staff, suppliers, landlords or the tax office.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just pretty rough how it\u2019s all come together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Boss Lawyers solicitor Mark Harley reported Maverick Campers\u2019 liabilities were estimated to exceed $6m.<\/p>\n
He said the liquidation was triggered by a financier exercising its rights under the Personal Property Securities Act to seize all stock.<\/p>\n
It follows the collapse of Zone RV that was wound up owing $42m in January, Star Vision and Australian Off Road that entered voluntary administration with a $9m debt.<\/p>\n
\u201cA customer who paid a deposit for goods not yet delivered is treated as an unsecured creditor in the liquidation,\u201d Mr Harley warned consumers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you paid by credit card, you may have a chargeback right under your card\u2019s terms.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Victorian caravan maker that employs hundreds of people has gone into voluntary administration, with urgent efforts 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