ANC squabble settled
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• Parcels company ANC Holdings has bought out three of its franchisees in an out-ofcourt settlement reached minutes before the parties were due to appear at the High Court (CM 31 January-6 February).
ANC is believed to have paid hundreds of thousands of pounds for the customer bases and their assets. The five depots involved are at Warrington, Leicester, Norwich, Abergele and Huntingdon.
ANC marketing director John Gardner refused to comment on any possible clause in the deal which forbids the exfranchisees to set up a transport business in the area for a year, saying that any such clause was part of the "settlement with different individuals".
Gardner says that the franchisees approached ANC to settle out of court just before they went before the judge on 1 February.
The High Court was to have decided whether or not ANC had acted legally in trying to take control of the five depots last month for alleged nonpayment of bills. The franchisees won back temporary control after taking out an injunction against ANC, which expired on 1 February.
Ex-franchisees contacted by Commercial Motor would not comment on the situation.