Callprint hits the acquisition trail with Premier deal

Callprint Group has acquired London-based digital print and repro rival Premier Reprographics to boost its presence in the capital and broaden its international reach.

“The acquisition will strengthen our growth in London. Premier is a well established, quality-led business and we want to build on that and expand its reach and build on its global contracts,” said Callprint director Graham Peace.

The deal to acquire the £550,000-turnover, five-staff business completed on Sunday 1 June.

Peace said that Premier, which serves the construction industry, will be rebranded Callprint over the coming months, in effect becoming the group’s west London branch.

“Premier Reprographics is an important acquisition for us and we look forward to working with the team to increase our presence in this area,” said Callprint chairman Alan Cheek.

Premier director Alan Catling, who will remain with the firm for a transitional period, added: "Becoming part of the Callprint Group will enable Premier's customers to benefit from a wider range of products and services. Additionally, Callprint's technical expertise and national network offers significant opportunities for the growth of Premier's customer base."

Callprint has operations in India and Dubai and 19 UK branches spread across Birmingham, Bristol, Colchester, Croydon, Edinburgh, Heathrow, Hertford, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and multiple sites in London.

The 190-staff, £13m-turnover business provides document management, repro, wide-format and variable data print, and 3D printing services to the architecture, engineering and construction sectors. In the past decade the firm has experienced significant growth in the 3D print and bid packs.

“Premier offers very similar services and this is where it will work well for us, because we can bring added services to their clients and upsell,” said Peace.

He also hinted that there could be more acquisitions on the horizon: “We’re always looking for the right businesses to add to our portfolio. We have our eyes pretty wide open.”