Two companies have formed an alliance to become one of the largest luxury packaging groups in Europe after receiving strategic advice from a Kent law firm and accountancy company.

The London Fancy Box Co and Italian manufacturing group Pusterla 1880 struck the deal after being advised by Maidstone-based lawyers Brachers.

Tax and corporate support came from Reeves, which has three offices in the county.

Both Kent companies have recently opened offices at Discovery Park, Sandwich.

The deal sees €40m turnover Pusterla acquire a minority stake in £18.5m turnover London Fancy Box Co.

Pusterla will acquire the whole of the share capital of LFB in 2014, when both principal shareholders Christopher and Matthew Lawson will become minority shareholders in Pusterla.

Mr Lawson said: “For us, a key part of putting the deal in place was having the Brachers team working with us, with the ability to operate within our timeframes and provide us with the succinct commercially driven advice that we needed.”

The deal was completed in four weeks and will leave the LFB management team in place, strengthened by the appointment of Pusterla general manager Roberto Marini as a non-executive director.

Family-run business Pusterla has been manufacturing since 1880 and counts Bulgari, LVMH, L’Oreal and Hermes among its customers.

LFB has been family-owned for 119 years and supplies presentation packaging to clients such as Procter & Gamble, Diageo and Chivas Brothers.