The bid was led by Ed Slater, the group's finance director until June and current company secretary, and Premier Metropolis managing director Andy Leatham. The sale leaves Thomas Potts with just one print production business - G&E in Peterborough, which does digital printing.
Its main interests are now in print and logistics management with Fairway PSD, Eurographics and CCS Potts. It also owns Cambridge Publishing Management but sold Harlow-based screen printer Serigraphic to Epping's Blacketts last week (PrintWeek, 29 November).
Group chief executive Mark Scanlon said: "Premier Metropolis was a small- to medium-sized player. You need a high level of capital expenditure, which we were not prepared
to do."
Premier Metropolis employs 45 staff and has sales of between 2.5m and 3m. The firm's main presses are four Heidelbergs - two Speedmaster 72s and two 102s, including a 10-colour that wasn't included in the deal but will be rented back from Thomas Potts.
Slater and Leatham originally bought Premier Metropolis in 1992 in an MBO, before selling it to Thomas Potts in 1998.
Story by Gordon Carson
