Buhrmann plans to raise 380m-442m (E600m- E700m) in an equity offering to finance further acquisitions, including the purchase of the North American activities of US Office Products (USOP).


But Ernst Moeksis, Buhrmanns manager of corporate communications, would not reveal if the group was thinking of making any buys in its paper merchanting business.


US Office Products, the parent firm of USOP-North America, holds a 49% stake in Dudley Stationery, and to facilitate the sale USOP and several of its US arms have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief.


We are not part of the sale document that has been issued, so we are safe at the moment, said Dudley Stationery chief executive and chairman Alan Brient.


The equity offering is part of a three-point plan to finance the takeover of the Samas office products division, USOP-North America and the on-going acquisition programme.