Ancor, a stationery and packaging manufacturer based in Vila do Conde, has notified the Competition Authority of its acquisition of sole control of Ambar. The transaction involves the purchase of all the share capital of the historic Portuguese brand.

Led by Francisco Correia and owned by the Correia family, Ancor presents itself as the largest Portuguese manufacturer of stationery and one of the main Iberian producers of stationery and packaging. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.

Annual production is around 30 million items.

Founded 54 years ago in Porto as a workshop dedicated to archival products, Ancor currently has its main industrial unit in Guilhabreu, in the municipality of Vila do Conde.

The company manufactures approximately 30 million units per year, sold through wholesalers, specialist retailers, and modern distribution chains. In addition to its own brands Ancor, B'log, and Smooth, it produces items for third-party brands.

School supplies currently represent the main segment of the business, which also continues to encompass office and filing supplies.

At the end of 2018, the company also entered the packaging sector, through a 2,000 square meter industrial unit dedicated to producing solutions for higher value-added items such as wine, footwear, games and electronic equipment.

The group employs nearly 140 people and also includes a printing company and another company dedicated to developing the collections.

Ambar was created in 1939.

Founded in 1939 by Américo Barbosa, Ambar is dedicated to the development, manufacture and marketing of stationery, school and office supplies, as well as leather goods.

During its peak periods, the company recorded a turnover exceeding 30 million euros. Currently, it maintains a limited presence in physical retail, through a store in Barcelos, and in e-commerce.

The brand was close to insolvency in 2013, but was rescued the following year by businessmen José Costa, linked to Coscelos, and José Manuel Ferreira, from the Valérius textile group. Each investor then held half of the company's capital.

Ambar also developed the Ambar Science project, a range of scientific and educational toys created under the auspices of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto.

With the acquisition, Ancor will integrate into its portfolio one of the most recognized Portuguese brands in the stationery and school supplies sector. The transaction was formally notified to the Competition Authority on July 10th.