Communisis has completed its disposal programme with the sale of both Howitts and its American healthcare business.


Nottingham's Howitts has been sold to a buy-in management buy-out team in a 6m deal headed by newly appointed managing director James Elliot, who returns to the UK after 20 years in South Africa.


He joins the existing team of finance director Chris Knight, sales director Mike Normyle, commercial director Tony Ogle and operations director Dave Weiss. The deal was backed by Lloyds TSB and Close Asset Finance.


Howitts and Communisis have also struck a supply agreement whereby Howitts will be its former owner's preferred supplier for commercial web work.


Communisis divisional director John Wells said it would give "us all the advantages of a second site without having to own one".


In the year to April 2000, Howitts posted a pre-tax and pre-interest profit of just 900,000 on sales of 31.7m.


Ongoing sales are around 30m and the new team is reviewing the firm's strategy.


"We've had three changes of owner in 18 months after 180 years under one. This is an opportunity to return some stability to the business," said Knight.


Communisis completed its sell-off programme by selling its 33.2m ($49.5m) turnover US healthcare operation for 30.8m.


Story by Jo Francis