Print buying

A €1.1tr (£834bn) asset purchase scheme announced by European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi this morning could cut the cost of key imports such as paper and ink for UK printers.

A parliamentary vote on the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes and other tobacco products has been bumped up and will now take place before the general election.

Webmart chief executive Simon Biltcliffe is offering free mentoring and advice to print start-ups in the form of 10-minute sessions via Skype.

Charterhouse PM has acquired the £10m-turnover Bristol-based customer engagement agency Indicia for an undisclosed amount.

Direct mail fulfilment and print management services provider Baker Goodchild has added to its growing production capabilities by making a raft of investments in new equipment.

Former Global MP and Prospect Mailing Services owner Kevin Dunstall has a new interest in a print-related business.

Five envelope manufacturers, including the owner of Blackburn-based Heritage Envelopes, have been fined a total of €19.5m by the European Commission (EC) for breaching EU antitrust rules.

Smith & Ouzman (S&O) and two of its directors have been found guilty of making corrupt payments to secure print contracts in Kenya and Mauritania.

Communisis has completed its latest acquisition, of shopper marketing agency Life Marketing Consultancy, in a deal that could reach £23.3m over three years.

Hampshire-based commercial printer LPC Printing has fallen into administration and ceased to trade.