Printpotato.com has bought TPC Telecoms in a major change of direction and has put its online print website up for sale.


The move comes after Printpotato reported a pre-tax loss of more than 1m on turnover of only 104,000 for the 14-month period ended 31 March 2001.


"We are still taking to one or two people, and are hopeful that the software will be bought or used in partnership with another company," said Paul Hargrave, Printpotatos managing director of development.


Following the 12.6m acquisition of TPC Telecoms, the companys name will change to Invox.


TPC is a provider of interactive voice response (IVR) based promotions, particularly competition cards inserted into magazines and newspapers that invite winners to phone a premium rate line to claim prizes.


The acquisition is made more interesting because mutual shareholders in TPC and Printpotato include chairman Stephen Hargrave, Paul Hargrave and finance director Jerry Reidy.


Carl Tatton is to be appointed managing director of the enlarged company. He is a co-founder of TPC, former commercial director of Kalamazoo Security Print, and both finance and then managing director of Midland Printing (Shrewsbury).


Hargrave said the management of Printpotato and the existing management of TPC controlled 90% of Invox.


An EGM is set for 30 August, at which Hargrave said he hoped the deal would be approved.


Story by Andy Scott