The assets include machinery, stock and work in progress as well as two key sales staff including Polestar Select Envelopes ex-sales and marketing director Rob Pratley.

All current orders and contracts in place with Polestar will be fulfilled and it is hoped that MBA will continue to service Polestar clients under the brand name of MBA Select Envelopes.

MBA Group chairman Bachar Aintaoui said that the deal, for an undisclosed sum, complemented the groups existing envelope assets and highlighted its commitment to the sector.

Im confident this shall form the basis of a strategic relationship with Polestar. I feel our respective firms will continue to work well together in concluding this project, said Aintaoui.

The acquisition more than doubles MBA Envelopes weekly capacity from 15m envelopes to in excess of 30m. The equipment to be transferred includes seven Winkler Dunnebier presses.

Polestar had been looking at a number of options for its Select Envelopes business, including relocation, sale and closure, following the sale of part of its Paulton site for residential development. A spokeswoman for Polestar said that it employed around 30 staff and those not offered positions within the group

would be made redundant, although the exact number has not been disclosed.
Polestar operations director special products Mike Walmsley said: This is best for this business as it becomes part of an established and committed envelope manufacturing group. We wish it every success.

The 350-employee MBA Group is headquartered in London and also has a laser printing and mailing facility in Warrington.

Story by John Davies