It hopes that the new deals four of which are for print management and the other a direct mail contract will generate combined sales of between 5.5m and 7.5m a year, increasing its turnover to approximately 38m.

The firm signed a three-year deal with a global utilities group for print management services across 1,000 different product lines. This contract, along with another three-year deal with a pensions company, will generate sales of 4m-6m.

Chairman and chief executive Tim Brettell said: "Because of our operational flexibility, weve been able to re-focus on to print management and away from direct mail after last years downturn. During the year weve replaced lost DM work with print management and its now bearing fruit."

Brettell wasnt relying on a return to high levels of direct mail activity until 2003, when Access Plus would still be in a good position to "bounce back". But the outlook for the second half of 2002 was "very good", geared up by the contract wins.

Brettell would not comment on whether Access Plus had been approached in light of the recent acquisitions in the print management sector Communisis bought Centurion Press and Williams Lea acquired Alistair McIntosh but hinted at possible purchases of its own.

"We make no secret that we are an acquisitive public company and we tell our shareholders that we are growing organically as well as acquisitively," he said.

Two years ago Access Plus paid over 11m for Leicestershire-based print and print management firm Software Stationery (PrintWeek, 7 July 2000).

Story by Rachel Barnes