THE HarperCollins stationery and diary division in Bishopbriggs is to
be bought by Debden UK, a subsidiary of Singapore-based diary
manufacturers Nippecraft, it was announced yesterday.
The takeover, for an undisclosed sum, offers hope for the future of
the division's 35 sales, production and administration staff, 14 of whom
were to be made redundant under HarperCollins cutbacks announced last
Friday.
Debden UK managing director John McAlpine, who is a former head of
HarperCollins Glasgow, said: ''Debden UK has acquired a leading company,
several well-known brands and the associated editorial, publishing and
sales expertise which lies behind its success.
''We will be offering positions to the majority of the 35 staff and we
will be remaining at Westerhill certainly in the short term.''
Debden UK was unable to disclose exactly how many staff would be
retained, or the details of the relocation plans, since the takeover
contract was not due to be finalised until the middle of the month.
However, a spokesman said: ''As far as Debden is concerned, what we
are actually buying is the expertise of the existing staff and as far as
possible they will be retained somewhere in the Glasgow area.''
The takeover will not include HarperCollins' diary manufacturing
operations at Westerhill although the plant will continue its connection
with diaries.
Mr McAlpine said: ''We cannot guarantee any long-term stationery and
diary manufacturing in Glasgow, but distribution is expected to continue
at HarperCollins' Westerhill site.
Eddie Bell, HarperCollins' executive chairman, said of the takeover:
''John McAlpine's approach came at a time when we had taken the decision
to concentrate our efforts more on our core business of book
publishing.''
HarperCollins contacted over 40 companies in February about a possible
takeover of the Westerhill plant which lost #3m last year.
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