The equity-based acquisition, the details of which have not yet been disclosed, is intended to create a "market leader in the provision of managed print, scanning and electronic data discovery services to the legal sector".

Cats, which has print and scanning hub facilities in London and Swindon supported by remote satellite units, said that the acquisition of LDSI would enable it to offer the complete range of document and print services, "from specific, litigation-focused search and indexing work through to total print facilities management".

Group managing director Greg Smith added: "The opportunity to bring together these two successful businesses to extend our service and product delivery into both client bases is extremely exciting.

"To add the highly specialised legal sector skills of LDSI, to Cats' expertise in delivering large-scale print management services to demanding SLA's gives us a unique one-stop capability."

According to Cats, the combined company will boast a turnover of £15m and a client base of major corporate, professional and public sector organisations, including 90 top law firms.

Smith said that the company "could not wait to take the proposition to its clients and to talk to new potential clients about improving their service, increasing productivity and reducing costs".