The Leeds-based print and print management firm made clear, however, that "it is far from certain" that the approaches would lead to any sort of deal.

Recent press speculation over the future of the firm prompted it to release this morning's statement.

In the statement, Communisis confirmed that it had been contacted and had held talks with a "small number" of private equity firms earlier in the summer.

The firm said that "exploratory discussions" with selected private equity houses had come to nothing and that it was no longer in discussions with any of those firms.

Communisis was, according today's Guardian, "the main talking point" amongst smaller firms on the stock market yesterday.

The newspaper reported that rumours of a 130p-a-share approach for the company pushed its shares up 5.5p to 110p at yesterday's close. The price had increased a further 2.4p to 112.4p at midday today.