A MASSIVELY growing York-based audio-visual company has bought out the assets of a Coventry firm - thereby saving six jobs.

Saville, in Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton, has acquired the assets of Studio 45 from the Receiver, ensuring the continuation of what was once one of the Midland's leading specialists in AV, video and multimedia equipment sales and hire.

The purchase follows hot on the heels of various Saville acquisitions which have followed its management buy-out three years ago by managing director John Sills from chairman Michael Saville.

Six branches have been added to the Savilles outposts in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, Farnborough and Teesside, including a London Docks showroom and outlets in Glasgow, Belfast and now Coventry.

Latest deals were Vupoint, now Saville Vupoint in Welwyn Garden City, and Trison of Cardiff, the top AV company in Wales, each for about £1 million.

The expansion has seen Saville's turnover rise from £15 million in 1997 to £25 million this year and is on target for £30 million next year.

The Studio 45 deal is described by MD John Sills as an "important foothold in the West Midlands."

He said the new centre would be a vital link between northern offices and Saville's growing southern network.

"From Coventry we can now offer enhanced hire and conference production services, AV systems design, including video-conferencing and our latest portfolio of LCD projectors and digital display equipment.

"It will enable us to improve the service to all our customers in the Midlands."

Saville's fastest growth has been in AV hire and conferences services and in the design and manufacture of permanently installed systems, mostly for blue chip corporate companies and the public sector.

Last year it was named Audio Visual Company of the Year, AV Rental Company of the Year and Presentation Dealer of the Year in the first AV Industry Awards organised by AV Magazine.

It was also voted UK AV Hire Company of the Year by Hire Association Europe.