Bendix brake manufacturer enters administration and receivership following US parent's collapse

FMP Group (Australia) Pty Limited, the Australian manufacturer behind the Bendix automotive braking brand, entered voluntary administration and receivership on 26 October 2026, just over a year after its US parent, First Brands Group, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Tianne Nagy-Jones and Philip Campbell-Wilson of Grant Thornton were appointed voluntary administrators, while Vaughan Strawbridge and John Park of FTI Consulting were appointed receivers and managers on the same day. The administrators were appointed by a secured creditor under section 436C of the Corporations Act 2001.

The company continues to trade under the control of the receivers, who are responsible for its day-to-day operations, while the administrators oversee the interests of unsecured creditors and investigate the company's affairs. A Bendix spokesperson has indicated that operations remain unaffected and that new ownership will be announced shortly, although no purchaser has been identified publicly.

Established in Ballarat, Victoria, in 1955, FMP Group has manufactured automotive braking products for more than 70 years. Originally known as Mintex Limited, the business became Bendix Mintex following an investment by the US-based Bendix Corporation in 1963 and adopted its current name in 2002. It previously supplied major Australian vehicle manufacturers, including Holden, Ford and Toyota, before shifting its focus to the automotive aftermarket following the closure of Australia's domestic car manufacturing industry.

The company's Ballarat facility employs approximately 120 people and produces more than 1.3 million sets of brake pads annually. In 2025, Bendix announced further investment in manufacturing equipment, robotics and warehouse capacity as part of efforts to expand domestic production.

The appointments follow the financial collapse of First Brands Group, which acquired the Australian FMP and Trico businesses in 2024. The US automotive parts supplier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2025, disclosing estimated liabilities of between US$10 billion and US$50 billion. Its proceedings were subsequently converted to Chapter 7 liquidation on 1 September 2026.