Heidelberg and Manroland merger rumours persistv

Date:2009-8-25 13:30:00

Rumours of a possible merger between press manufacturing giants Heidelberg and Manroland have resurfaced, following reports in the German trade press.

According to reports in the 21 August issue of Manager magazine Printing, Heidelberg and Manroland have appointed Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank respectively to advise on the potential merger, which it said could lead to the loss of 2,500 jobs.PAPER BAG

The magazine claimed that the new Printing company would need to dispose of the Manroland sheetfed manufacturing site in Offenbach, which employs 2,500 people, and that in the current market, closure might be the only option.

However, Deutscher Drucker has reported that Manroland's major shareholder Allianz Capital Partners is in talks with China printing equipment manufacturer Shaghai Electric (Group) Corp (SEC) to work out a framework for a possible deal for parts of the sheetfed business.PAPER BOX 

Heidelberg, Manroland and SEC could not be reached for comment.