Keldia sales and marketing director Tony Foo and three of his fellow directors have bought the Walthamstow firm from founder Tony Diamond.
Foo, who becomes managing director, said the MBO team, which also includes commercial director Godric Churchill, production director Malcolm Marsh, and IT director David Smart, had been running the firm since January.
"People wont notice a difference," said Foo. "It was one of the most amicable MBOs I have ever seen. I will miss Tony on a personal basis. Hes a bit of a legend in the printing industry."
Diamond and former financial director Mary Nagle will retain a "substantial stake" in the business. The duo will also be employed by Keldia as consultants.
Foo said Diamond had been a "visionary in the industry over the last 30 years".
"I have heard prominent people scoff at the technological advances Tony has pioneered - four-colour perfecting in 1991, CTP in 1996 - yet they all seem to have eaten their words," he added.
Diamond, who started Keldia in 1968, said the MBO team had "performed brilliantly over the last six months".
Keldia employs 120 staff and has a turnover of 10.8m. It installed the UKs first thermal Agfa Galileo CTP system in March (PrintWeek, 17 March), which Foo said was "working brilliantly".
The firm prints commercial jobs for high street banks and blue-chip companies. "We have tried to spread the burden of risk," said Foo.
NatWest Corporate Banking Services also provided finance for the deal.
Story by Gordon Carson