BURY-based greetings cards giants, Birthdays Group, has announced a major takeover.

The group has bought Rochdale-based Thorpalm Greetings Cards for an undisclosed sum. The business trades under the well-known name of "Paperchain" which has more than 50 stores, mainly in the Midlands and North West, including Bury.

Mr John Lovering, Birthdays' chairman and chief executive, together with Mr Chris Woodhouse, commercial and finance director, will join the Thorpalm board.

Mr Tony Kearns, owner and founder of Thorpalm, will step down from the board while remaining as a consultant during the hand-over period.

Commenting on the deal, Mr Lovering said: "I am delighted by the acquisition. This will strengthen Birthdays' position in the North West and give additional momentum to the company's unparalleled growth record."

Mr Kearns said: "We have worked closely with Birthdays for many years and are one of the major customers of their wholesale division.

"Cementing the existing links between the two businesses will be good for everyone, developing the Paperchain and Birthdays operations in harmony."

Birthdays, whose head office is in Dumers Lane, is the UK's largest independent retailer of greetings cards, giftwraps and giftware.

The company, with more than 390 shops and 50 franchised outlets, was started by Bury businessman, Ron Wood.

Operating profits in the year to June, 1996, were £11 million on a turnover of £99.3 million.

The business was subject to a management buy-in last October in a deal worth more than £90 million, which was backed by Prudential Venture Managers and Schroder Ventures.

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