The France-based group, parent of Bath Press, Cox & Wyman, Mackays of Chatham and Antony Rowe, was bought in a 308m (E450m) deal backed by private equity houses Electra Partners and CVC Capital Partners.

Bovard founded CPI with Cyrille Chevrillon nine years ago when it bought French printer Bussire. It has since gone on, through a series of acquisitions, to become the world's largest producer of monochrome books with a turnover of 247m (EURO360m). It has UK sales of around 76m.

Bovard said the backing of CVC and Electra, which are investing equal shares alongside CPI management, would move the group on to the "next level".

"With the money of private individuals we've built a pretty sizeable business in nine years. But to go to the next level we need more professional shareholders with deeper pockets," Bovard said.

The acquisitive group, which first arrived in the UK in 1999 when it bought Cox & Wyman from Rexam, is set to continue its geographic expansion. "With CPI, we've made 14 acquisitions in all we're getting warmed up," joked Bovard. He added the group would also look to add "a wider range of services up and down the value chain".

He said the group  also planned to ensure that its UK businesses "functioned as a unit" under new UK managing director Kevin Kelley, who was appointed earlier this summer.

August 1999   Buys Cox & Wyman from Rexam
September 1999 Buys LIBERfabrica, parent of Bath Press, Bookcraft and Redwood Books
September 2000 Acquires Mackays of Chatham
December 2001 Redwood merged with Bookcraft, Bath Press
June 2003 Bookcraft merged with Bath Press
January 2005 Buys book group Antony Rowe
August 2005 MBO of CPI Group 

Story by Lauretta Roberts