of Class Cleaners in St. George's to create the largest laundry and dry cleaning service in the Island.

The deal, brokered by Capcar Enterprises, now brings 11 retail outlets under the roof of holding company, DT&T Ltd., without the loss of any jobs.

The previous owner of Coral Cleaners and Touch of Class Cleaners, Ronald Smith, gave up ownership of the two for equity in the overall operation.

Mr. Smith and Stephen Thomson, both directors of the firm, said in a joint statement: "Together we will be able to realise the significant benefits of a larger size by operating multiple outlets throughout Bermuda more efficiently with a broader range of services including shirt laundering, table linens, alterations, leather and suede cleaning, Island-wide pick up and delivery and commercial restaurant and hotel laundry and dry cleaning facilities.'' Mr. Thomson estimated yesterday that the combined operation may be responsible for some 60 percent of the $3 million to $5 million laundry and dry cleaning market in Bermuda.

The deal comes just about a year after Mr. Thomson was at the centre of a volatile controversy that brought 1,000 union sympathisers out onto the streets of Hamilton over the issue of unionisation.

Last year in March, a controversy erupted over employees of Hamilton ValCleaners and Paget Dry Cleaners, two businesses purchased by Mr. Thomson's company. Central to the dispute was a request for a union ballot.

Marching protesters brought chaos to Hamilton streets and staged pickets outside Mr. Thomson's businesses, including launderers, Just Shirts and Mailboxes Unlimited.

The controversy spilled over onto the floor of the House of Assembly, as the Government, concerned to get the Island back to normal, pledged to change the law to guarantee employee ballots on unionisation.