Direct mail

Mail Boxes Etc (MBE) has acquired AlphaGraphics, the US-headquartered print franchise chain that was formerly owned by Pindar.

West Sussex-based direct mailing operation Nova Direct Mail has been placed in administration with the loss of around 22 jobs.

The Strategic Mailing Partnership (SMP) is looking forward to a year of expansion with its sights on taking in “every single mailing house” in the country.

Unions have threatened strike action after Royal Mail announced that its £7.4bn defined benefit pension scheme will close to future accrual in March 2018.

Direct mail service provider Howard Hunt has installed the second of two Böwe Systec Fusion Cross high speed inserting systems at its Dartford site and is considering a third.

Financial printing firm Black & Callow has bought the assets of its London-based print partner Master Mail.

The Fundraising Regulator has confirmed its plans for the Fundraising Preference Service (FPS).

Group revenues in the first half to 25 September 2016 increased slightly to £4.6bn, an increase of 1% on the same period in 2015, driven by its European parcel operations.

Deutsche Post DHL Group has bought independent UK postal operator UK Mail Group as it continues to expand its European parcel operations.

Mailing house MetroMail has been praised by charity Grace House after it donated printing, enclosing and mailing services thought to be worth around £4,000.