Kayser chief snaps sock shares

Scallywags’ assets have been snapped up by three local textile businesses as the sock and hosiery stalwart inches closer to closure.

Wilderness Wear and 3 Peaks managing director Philip Endersbee confirmed that he, along with Kayser lingerie owner Simon de Winter and textile equipment distribution company Ramsay McDonald, had each acquired components of the Scallywags portfolio.

“We took out the assets that related to their branded program, Simon came in and took out the assets that related to their import program to see if he can maintain the continuity of supply with the likes of Kmart, and then Ramsay McDonald took the balance of the machinery and responsibility for everything left at the plant from a machinery perspective,” Endersbee said.

“As far as the debtors and creditors and the shell of the company, that’s still with the previous owners to wind their way through.”

The owner of Scallywags, Ken Anderson, is also the man behind the New Zealand-based Lane Walker Rudkin (LWR) Industries. LWR went into receivership in April 2009, allegedly owing hundreds of thousands to Westpac New Zealand and former LWR employees.

General secretary of the National Distribution Union in New Zealand, Robert Reid, reported that the cessation of Scallywags’ manufacturing operations had left 60 Australian textile workers without jobs.

“We are told that the staff are owed more than $500,000 in unpaid superannuation contributions, long service leave, wages and redundancy payments,” Reid said.

Endersbee revealed that while he has yet to employ any former Scallywags staff, he would consider it in the near future.

“My understanding is [Scallywags] has got enough indebters, in theory, to make sure the staff are paid their entitlements. I would like to think that in the next three to four weeks that a couple of the staff will come knocking on our door,” Endersbee said.

Scallywags, officially trading as Jaido Pty Ltd, was originally established by Peter and Beverley Briese. Brands under the company’s portfolio included Mentor and its eponymous kids’ socks label. The business also manufactured custom product for retailers including Mountain Designs and Anaconda.

Erin O’Loughlin