DEALER and contract hire group Alexanders is to undergo major restructuring, including the launch of a daily rental operation and expansion of its leasing activities. Profits before tax struggled to £20,000 (1995: £221,000) on turnover of £119.4 million (1995: £113.4 million) for the year to September 30, 1996, prompting chairman Aleksandra Clayton to announce the move.

Part of that process is the establishment of a new daily rental company, which opens its first stand-alone outlet at Heathrow Airport next week, and continuing growth at Alexanders Contract Rentals. The Northampton-based leasing company's fleet stands at around 5,000 vehicles, but finance director Michael Bennett predicted it would double over the next three or four years.

Ford announced that franchises for two of the group's largest dealerships - Edinburgh and Northampton - will not be renewed and Clayton said the group would have to look for additional profit opportunities.