The combined business will employ over 5,000 staff, and have projected revenues in the region of 450m.

"The North American market is the largest in the world and offers an outstanding growth opportunity for Williams Lea," said Williams Lea chief executive Tim Griffiths.

The two companies have worked together since 1996. Griffiths said the acquisition was a logical step.

It is Williams Lea's second acquisition this year, following on from Formation e-Document Solutions in July (PrintWeek 22 July).

BBS is a subsidiary of Bowne, whose other subsidiaries are Bowne Financial Print and Bowne Global Solutions.

BBS's clients include eight of the top 10 US investment banks and some of the top 200 law firms in the US.

Story by Andy Scott