Paragon-owned Service Graphics said the buy would make it the largest graphics group in the country, with 700 staff and sales of £80m.
Octink is based in Brentford, west London. It specialises in site hoardings, signage and display graphics. It runs a wide range of kit from Durst, HP, Mimaki, Kongsberg and Seal.
The firm had sales of £14.7m in its most recent accounts and employs more than 90 staff. Family-owned parent business AE Tyler was established nearly 50 years ago.
Octink’s management team including chief executive Will Tyler, managing director Mike Freely and director Charlotte Gingell remain with the business.
Service Graphics said Octink’s established business with construction sector clients was a key factor in the purchase, and described its Brentford factory as a “world class” facility for serving metropolitan clients.
Martin Hutchings, managing director of Service Graphics Display, said: “Our strategy is to grow our business through acquisition and with organic sales, to create visual experiences for our clients. We are targeting companies that offer entry to new markets or can increase market share within existing markets,” he said.
Hutchings described Octink as “a fabulous business” serving some of the biggest names in house building and property development.
“I am delighted that they share our vision and we welcome the Octink team to Service Graphics.”
Octink chief executive Will Tyler commented: “Through joining Service Graphics, we are realising our ambition of providing our customers with a range of services and added value that will be unrivalled in the sector. The Octink team are looking forward to being at the centre of this new proposition.”
Yesterday Service Graphics announced that it had acquired Image Factory in Chippenham, and remains on the lookout for further buys.
John Eager, chief executive of Paragon’s Graphic Services division, said: “Our two most recent acquisitions, Image Factory and Octink, are great businesses that enhance the breadth and depth of capabilities of Service Graphics and will deliver increasing value to our customers.
“The acquisitions reflect Paragon's commitment to be the market-leading service provider of high impact visual communications in the UK and across Europe. We will continue to grow our business organically and through further acquisitions.”
The highly acquisitive Paragon Group now has sales of more than £1bn and employs around 7,500 staff in the UK and continental Europe.
Pictured left to right: John Eager, Will Tyler, Charlotte Gingell, Mike Freely and Martin Hutchings.
