Thomas Potts is still on the hunt for acquisitions despite losing out on Keldia Printing.

Group commercial director Mark Scanlon said the company was looking in all areas.

"There are an awful lot of distressed companies out there," he added. "Our balance sheet is strong."

Thomas Potts reported a pre-tax profit of 757,000 before goodwill amortisation on sales of 19m for the six months to 30 September.

Serigraphic, its screen printing operation, was the group's star performer, with retail clients including Tesco and B&Q demanding more point-of-sale work.

Scanlon said the trend would continue "as long as you keep eating food or buying hammers and nails".

Thomas Potts' optimism about its prospects for the next year is "necessarily tinged with caution".