The group bought Essex printer Blacketts for an initial 3.92m in shares and cash, with a further payment of up to 1.13m due if it hits unspecified profit targets for its financial year, which ends on 30 September.

Blacketts employs 81 staff and has screen, digital and litho capacity as well as a print management arm which sources web and gravure work in Europe.

Last week's purchase will add around 16m turnover to Wyndeham's current sales figure of 141m, and bring total head count in the group to around 1,700.

The City reacted to the news favourably, with the share price rising from 110p at the announcement last Thursday (11 August) to 121.5p as PrintWeek went to press.

Blacketts houses a a digital department which boasts Xeikon and Heidelberg presses and five wide-format printers. It also has a screen printing department with five Svecia and Serifast presses.

Paul Utting, Wyndeham chief executive, said: "The addition of screen printing and digital printing capabilities complements the range of print services which are required to service our clients, as well as offering the potential to enter new markets."

A spokeswoman for Wyndeham said it was too early to give any further details on the integration of Blacketts, but confirmed it will be branded Wyndeham Blacketts.

Another selling point for Blacketts was its list of big-name blue-chip clients including B&Q, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, estate agent Chard, Ikea UK, Mercedes Benz and Tesco Stores.
Blacketts was founded by three former BP Cook staff in June 2002. They subsequently bought BP Cook, which was trading as Serigraphic, from the then Thomas Potts (now TP3) in November of the same year.

Story by Josh Brooks