Glasgow-based printers Bell & Bain and J Thomson Colour Printers are to merge, following the sale of chairman Nick Thomson’s 100% equity holding in the latter company for an undisclosed sum.
Bell & Bain is an independent book printer that two years ago purchased Europe’s first Ricoh Pro VC60000. J Thomson Colour Printers is based in Glasgow’s Tradeston district and provides a full printing service to a range of large and small business.
The companies will continue to operate in their respective markets under the guidance of managing directors, Kevin Creechan at J Thomson Colour Printers and Karen Baillie at Bell & Bain. Together they have a turnover of £30 million and will employ 300 staff, all of whose jobs will be kept.
‘This exciting transaction offers us the ability to capitalise on our respective strengths to create a major force within the Scottish and UK print industry,’ said Stephen Docherty, who took full control of Bell & Bain earlier this year, and who will be chairman of the merged business. ‘With our combined resources we will be in a position both to expand our current operations and to invest substantially to create new efficiencies and opportunities for future growth.’
‘I am delighted that this coming together of two first-class Glasgow-based print companies will create an enhanced business with tremendous potential for growth,’ added Mr Thomson, who will continue until the end of the year as a consultant to the new enterprise. ‘I am delighted that this coming together of two first-class Glasgow-based print companies will create an enhanced business with tremendous potential for growth. It is a meeting of two outstanding businesses which will provide a major boost for our industry in Scotland.’
