The Timbmet Group has bought the current stock of Vincent Murphy & Co Ltd for an undisclosed sum, just over a year after it bought S Silverman & Son (Importers) Ltd.

Neil Dixon, managing director of Vincent Murphy and its related company Severn Plywood, will move to Timbmet Group as sales director for the northern region and 13 sales staff will go with him.

Severn Plywood, the specialist panel products business based in Gloucestershire, has also been bought by Timbmet. It will continue to trade as a separate company under its current management team and there will be synergies with the S Silverman & Son panels business.

Brentwood-based Vickers Timber Co Ltd remains in Vincent Murphy ownership.

Overall, 36 staff will lose their jobs as a result of the deal and the £16m turnover company’s 14-acre Liverpool-based site will eventually close. Vincent Murphy customers will be supported from Timbmet’s Rochdale, Oxford and Glasgow branches.

Timbmet chief executive Simon Fineman said the timber trade is consolidating and the agreement will help Timbmet maintain its leading position, especially in hardwoods.

&#8220Vincent Murphy has a long-established history and I’m delighted that Neil Dixon and many of his sales team are joining Timbmet. Severn Plywood also extends the geographic reach of our panels business”

Timbmet chief executive Simon Fineman

“Vincent Murphy has a long-established history and I’m delighted that Neil Dixon and many of his sales team are joining Timbmet. Severn Plywood also extends the geographic reach of our panels business and we believe we can benefit from their experience in cutting panels to customer requirements.”

Mr Dixon said: “Vincent Murphy was formed in 1897 so, with more than 100 years of trading history, this was not a hasty decision.

“I thought we would be the last to sell, but there is not much point in seeking professional advice and then not taking it.

“While it is very sad to be losing 36 people and very sad that eventually the name Vincent Murphy will be lost, at least more than half the people will retain their jobs and the business is moving on to further development.”