VP Records, the world’s leading reggae record company, has announced today that it has made an offer to purchase Greensleeves Records & Publishing from Zest Group plc, subject to the approval of Zest’s shareholders. VP Records will inherit a catalogue comprised of some of the most notable albums of the genre, from Elephant Man to Yellowman and hit songs recorded by such acts as Rihanna, Sean Paul and Shaggy.

Chris Chin and Randy Chin, respectively Chief Executive Officer and President of VP Records, further added: “Although Greensleeves has historically been our competitor, we have always had the utmost respect for what Greensleeves stood for. The label and its founders had a long term commitment to Reggae music and no one is better positioned than VP Records to understand the need to respect this legacy. We will ensure that Greensleeves remains alive as a brand synonymous with excellence in Reggae and Dancehall music.”

Olivier Chastan, Vice President of VP Records, concluded: “The addition of Greensleeves to our catalog will ensure that the genre remains an important category in music. I am incredibly excited about the accumulation of classic works such as Wayne Smith’s “Sleng Teng” and Yellowman’s “Mr. Yellowman”. Greensleeves Publishing is just as rich, with a large catalog that includes major recent hits like Sean Paul’s “Get Busy” and Wayne Wonder’s “Bounce Along” both written by Steven Marsden (p/k/a Lenky) and Donovan Bennett’s “Pon De River, Pon De Bank” written for Elephant Man among other compositions. Furthermore, Greensleeves’s unique English roots will allow VP Records to consolidate its presence in Europe.”

Steve Weltman, Zest's Chief Executive, commented: “The combination of Greensleeves and VP Records will ensure the future of Reggae music around the world. VP Records is committed to preserving the legacy of the Greensleeves label that was begun by its founders Chris Sedgwick & Chris Cracknell in 1977.”