Roux firm in at Resort Hotels

BANKERS to the troubled Resort Hotels group have approached management consultants at Talisman Management International in an attempt to save the company from receivership.

Talisman was set up a few years ago by Richard Grogan and David Hoare, who used to work at Bain, the management consultants where Oliver Roux, the former Guinness finance director, also worked. Mr Roux, who now works for Talisman, was a key prosecution witness in the trial of Ernest Saunders, the drinks company's former chairman and chief executive.

According to banking sources, the banks, led by National Westminster and Midland, made the approach in the past few days.

Talisman was previously asked to put forward a strategy for Brent Walker, the ailing leisure to property group, but quickly found that their proposals, which involved drastic board changes, did not meet the requirements of the bankers.

Two weeks ago, Resort Hotels announced that it was suspending its shares at 45p and had called in accountants to investigate 'a number of financing and reporting issues'.