Following the break-up of the British Leyland/Rover Group in 2000, four businessmen (who famously bought the Longbridge factory in Birmingham and the associated Rover cars for £10!) had tried to revitalise the company and enter into a business partnership with a large Chinese automaker to provide a basis for future operations.
These negotiations were reported as going well and close to final approval when they suddenly collapsed, revealing poor underlying finances and causing the company to be put into administration.
