"We have known each other for a long while, and I think Klippan has the same view as us," he said.
He said he aimed to finalise the deal "however long it takes"
The talks came to light as the Scottish manufacturer admitted that further downsizing and cost cutting were imminent due to "production problems and weak seasonal demand" affecting Caldwells mill.
The merger would bring to an end a long-running campaign by corporate raider and Klippan chairman Jan Bernander to merge the companies.
Bernander failed with a bid in 2000 and both he and Klippan have since been actively acquiring shares in Inveresk.
Klippan’s current holding amounts to 24.7% of Inveresk’s share capital, or some 13.3m shares.
Klippan president Bengt Östensson said: "We are both in the same business areas and we want to see long-term synergies."
Discussions are also continuing with the Royal Bank of Scotland over Inveresk’s breach of covenants in its loan agreements (PrintWeek, 23 August)
The group’s problems have been further added to with the departure of finance director David Harrison after less than 10 months in the job.
Story by Andy Scott
