Around 200 jobs were under threat today after Intimas, the lingerie group, collapsed into administration.

The group, which produces its own brands and collections for high street retailers including Ted Baker Intimates, called in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after being hit by trading woes and the impact of the weak pound on import costs.

Intimas, based in Long Eaton, Nottingham, had already suspended its shares in June and had been looking to secure new investment to help with long-term financing.

Stuart Maddison, joint administrator and partner at PwC in East Midlands, said he hoped to sell the group as a going concern.

He added: “Intimas is a well known group with a number of strong brands in its portfolio, which has unfortunately become another victim of the recession. Our main priority now will be to review the outstanding order position and to look to achieve a sale of the business and its key brands.

“We are expecting a number of expressions of interest in the business", he said.

John Gibson, chairman of Intimas, described the group’s administration as a “sad day” for Intimas.

“The directors, working with the joint administrators, will do everything in their power to ensure a future for the business and secure jobs for the current employees,” he said.

Intimas - formerly known as Sherwood Group - is a designer and supplier of ladies’ lingerie, nightwear and swimwear. Their portfolios of brands include Lepel, DM and Charnos Lingerie.

The group reported losses of £1.65 million in the six months to June 30 last year after being hit by the consumer downturn.

It signed a three-year supply agreement with model Caprice in 2006 for her range, called By Caprice Lingerie.

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