OFFICE furniture group Calderburn looks set to be sold in a £27.2million deal.

The firm, which has its office headquarters in Blackburn, will be bought by Somerset-based Clares Equipment - provided shareholders agree.

A few months ago, the firm sold its Neville Johnson Offices subsidiary for £8 million.

In February, it sold its Blackburn-based Dauphin office seating business to Daco, part of a German-based group, for £1.7million.

The factory, based in Peter Street employs more than 60 staff and manufacturing will remain in Blackburn.

Although Calderburn still has its offices in Blackburn its only manufacturing business, SBFI, is based down South.

Clares is based in Somerset and has a turnover of £10million and 600 employees supplying equipment for supermarkets and airports. It is bidding 82p a share for Calderburn in a deal which is being recommended by the Blackburn board. "The offer represents the culmination of six months' discussion with third parties and the directors of Calderburn believe it represents an attractive opportunity for shareholders to realise their investment," said Calderburn chairman Christopher Moore.

Calderburn was formed in 1991 by the merger of East Lancashire office furniture groups Alan Cooper and Mayfield which produced office seating under the Dauphin trade name.

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