Third chance for the Omni
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• The award-winning Omni minibus has been rescued for the second time in 16 months.
Managing director Grant Lockhart has found two new major shareholders for the County Durham-based manufacturer, which went into receivership in November 1990: York Transport Equipment of Canada and property investor Maurice France of Scarborough.
Former owner Marshall David died in an aircrash shortly after he bought the Shildon factory from the receiver last April (CM 30 May-5 June 1991). His two children — a lawyer and a surveyor — instructed Lockhart to find a buyer for the firm.
"They did not believe in keeping a business they knew little about," says Lockhart, who retains his position as managing director and has increased his share in the business, which has been re-named Omni Coach.
Fred Davies from Canadianbased YTE, which set up York Trailers, becomes chairman; Maurice France is the company secretary.
The name Omni Bus was dropped because most of the 20 Omnis built since last April are being used for welfare application. Omni Coach has orders for 10 vehicles.
Lockhart laid off the 15strong workforce when the sale negotiations were being held, but has since re-employed half of them.
He plans to "blow the cobwebs off' the six-wheeler Omni, which still needs a bit more development work before its production starts in 1993. The six-wheeler was launched six weeks before previous Omni maker City Vehicle Engineering went into receivership. It will cost around £45,000.