The 62-year-old Dunedin-founded printer Wickliffe has been acquired by the Indian-linked Kalamazoo Group, but is still working through the details of the merger.
Wickliffe chairman Warren Leslie, who remains with the company, confirmed the merger when contacted yesterday, saying the pair were "still working through the the finer details" during a 90-day period, which would expire at the end of October.
Kalamazoo has about 100 employees in New Zealand. Wickliffe has more than 250, including 70 in Dunedin.
Mr Leslie, who declined to reveal how much Wickliffe was acquired for, said one detail being worked through was whether the merged entity would take on the name of the larger Wickliffe, or trade as a subsidiary of Kalamazoo.
When asked if there would be any effects on staff numbers in Dunedin, he said, "the intention is to grow the new group, and its business . . . and it augurs well" for Dunedin.
Internet-based Indian Newslink reported 1904-established Kalamazoo, owned by Steve D'Souza since 2004, had a $33 million turnover.
In New Zealand, Kalamazoo had purchased Computer Forms in 2005, Raven Press 2009, and now Wickliffe, while Indian Newslink said Kalamazoo had a printing and publishing house in Bangalore employing more than 600 staff.
