THE UK's largest designer and manufacturer of large-scale Christmas decoration schemes has bought the UK's largest manufacturer of animated models.
Centre Design, which has offices at Team Valley, in Gateshead, and Prudhoe, has acquired Animated Displays of Warrington, in a deal that will create a £7m business.
Customers include the Gateshead MetroCentre, Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, and Auchan in Paris.
Centre Design employs 50 staff. It will continue to operate Animated Displays from its headquarters in Golborne, near Warrington, maintaining its 40 staff.
Centre Design's managing director Peter Mason said: "This is an excellent deal for us and in line with our strategy to rapidly grow the business.
"Together with Animated Displays we can offer our customers an even better service."
Centre Design was established in 1986, but was acquired by Mr Mason in a management buy-out in October 2000.
Throughout its acquisition of Animated Displays, Centre Design was advised by Quantum Corporate Finance, with funding provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The buyout also involved funds managed by Classic Fund Management. Legal advice was provided by Ward Hadaway.
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