The Financial Mail had reported on 10 July that the London-based print management and facilities group had appointed investment bank UBS to advise on options, one of which could involve a 750m sale.

Group head of business development and marketing, Miles Toulson-Clarke said the firm was consulting with a number of professional advisers to review its growth strategies and associated financial implications.

Toulson-Clarke said the firm had a good track-record of growing its business, and was in a strong position for a period of further growth. He said the firm was very optimistic about growth opportunities. On the sale speculation he said Williams Lea was not entering into "that kind of process".