The group has sold the business and certain assets of Codesecure, which trades as Premier Metropolis, the Docklands-based litho printer, to a management team.

The bid was led by Ed Slater, the groups 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 management and logistics with Fairway PSD, Eurographics and CCS Potts. It also owns Cambridge Publishing Management and Rainbow Reprographics. It sold Harlow-based screen printer Serigraphic to Eppings Blacketts on Monday (25 November).

The businesses we have sold were the first two Potts bought, said group chief executive Mark Scanlon. Its an evolution.

Scanlon also said the groups print management subsidiaries had not bought print from its own production facilities, so the sale would have no impact on their capabilities.

Premier Metropolis was a small to medium-sized player, which is not the best position to be in without a clear product differential, he added. You need a high level of capital expenditure, which we were not prepared to do.