Bennett approached corporate finance adviser RSM Robson Rhodes, co-compiler of the PrintWeek Top 500, which advised him on 200 businesses in the south of England that fitted his acquisition criteria.

Bennett left Howard Hunt Direct in February due to mutual differences, and has since been out of the industry.

Yale Press, which had sales of 6.1m in 2001 and has over 60 staff, will stay focused on its core business of commercial print, but further expansion was not ruled out by Bennett.

Previous owners Philip Lintern and John Read have also been retained.