PrintWeek has been forwarded an email from MPC director Finn Payne to customers stating that MPC has merged with an Oxford printer.

In the email, Payne said: "We are now back up and running in the new production plant in Oxford. At this point in time, I can't tell you what the name of the company is that we have merged with as we don't want them to get any bad press like we have. However, the new company moving forward will be called Maurice Payne Ltd."

The email goes on to state that the company MPC claims to be merging with has a "10 Colour B1 with cut star and an eight colour B1".

According to industry sources, the only known printer with a cut-star equipped press in the Oxford area is Abingdon-based Nuffield Press.

Nuffield managing director Peter Kennerley had not returned calls at the time of writing.

In his email, Payne said that the initial plan had been to keep production at its Theale site, but that its bank "took so long to put the correct paper work together we made the decision to move production the other printer instead."

Payne was not available for comment at the time of writing.