THE head of the new owners of a greetings cards factory has predicted many happy returns for the group.

Keith Alm, chairman of American giant Hallmark, said the £188 million buy-out of Creative Publishing was an important step in creating a worldwide force

"Hallmark Cards UK and Creative Publishing complement each other's skills in the UK and I believe the combination presents exciting opportunities for the combined management team."

Creative Publishing includes Hambledon Studios which employs around 500 people at its East Lancashire site which produces millions of greetings cards each year.

Hallmark said it had been considering the possibility of buying Creative Publishing since the beginning of the year. Chairman of Creative Publishing Keith Chapman said: "The cash offer to be made by Hallmark Cards UK reflects the strength of Creative Publishing's business and the opportunities that it brings to Hallmark Cards UK.

Creative Publishing includes Hambledon Studios which employs around 500 people at its East Lancashire site which produces millions of greetings cards each year." The companies began discussions over the course of "several weeks" before announcing the recommended cash offer.

Homer Kay, managing director at Hallmark, said the move was a "vote of confidence in the UK cards market" and that he believed there was room for further growth in the industry.

Creative Publishing makes a range of gift wrapping, decorative accessories such as bows and tags, Christmas crackers and small gifts for major UK retailers like Marks & Spencer and John Lewis.

Hallmark, which had sales of more than 3.6 billion US dollars (£2.25 billion) is behind products such as Crayola and card favourites Forever Friends, Country Companions, Harbottle and Peanuts which includes Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

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