Three office supplies businesses have merged to create a company with a £12 million turnover.

Three office supplies businesses have merged to create a company with a £12 million turnover.

HGS in Leighton Buzzard, One Stop Supplies in London and Birmingham and Origin in Bristol will now trade as United LLP.

The companies behind the merger plan to grow the enlarged business to become a total service provider in the medium to large market.

Legal services were provided by Rickerbys, led by partners Edward Davies and Matthew Clayton.

Davies said the use of an LLP as the merger vehicle shows the continuing innovative ways in which they are being used. “Far from being the preserve of professional partnerships, as originally anticipated, the LLP vehicle continues to be an option to be considered along with a limited company at the outset of a transaction.

“Because members agreements aren’t a document of public record there has to be some doubt that the intricacies and know-how in particular cases is being circulated as widely as it could be,” he added.

The three companies appointed Neil Denniss, a partner at Horwath Clark Whitehill, as their financial and tax adviser.

Denniss said the firm was chosen to work on the deal after making a presentation to the board.

“We understand we won because we put forward the most appropriate and tax-efficient customised structure for the new business, rather than offering an off-the-peg solution,” he added. “We are sure that they will make the best of this opportunity and go from strength to strength.”