Rumours about the firm's trading status have been circulating in the industry, but this afternoon (22 July) he also stated categorically that the company was not in administration.

"We are going through a process that began earlier this month and are coming towards the end of that," Pindar told PrintWeek.

"I appointed KPMG to conduct a sale process because you can't sell a business of this complexity without advice, so there are a number of advisers on-site who are part of the presentations being made to interested parties," he added.

The £55.3m turnover Pindar PLC businesses being sold include the Scarborough web offset facility and Pindar's Preston-based sheetfed printing operation. The separate Agility software wing is also likely to be sold.

"I anticipate a complete or partial disposal of the businesses next week and will be in a better position to say more then," Pindar said.

York Mailing and RR Donnelley have been tipped as potential purchasers for some parts of the Pindar operations.