St Ives offloads finance divisions for £4m

St Ives plc has cut its losses and sold three of its under-performing units in an $8m(£4m) deal to free up cash needed for debt repayments.

The company, which has endured a tough year after disclosing accounting errors in the summer and being marked as a prime target for a takeover as overcapacity in the sector caused a slump in annual revenues, said the cash would be 'applied towards the reduction of borrowings.' 

Buyer Bowne & Co., a specialist in the creation, and distribution of regulatory and compliance documents, bought all the corporate finance-related activities carried on by St Ives Financial Limited in addition to the whole of the share capital of St Ives Financial Inc and St Ives Financial Japan KK, the activities of which are solely corporate finance-related.

St Ives, printer of the Harry Potter books, The Economist, Accountancy Age and other products such as Microsoft Xbox game inserts, reported that it would be retaining its Company Report and Accounts printing business.

In the 52 weeks ending 28 July 2006, the businesses being sold made a loss of £1.5m and had gross assets of £23.1m at that date, including a goodwill of £14.4m.

The transaction is expected to be completed in January following completion of
the consultations required by TUPE regulations in the UK, the company said.  

Related links:

Tangent is behind takeover bid for St Ives

Harry Potter printer may acquire other companies

Errors found at Harry Potter printer