Case Studies
Buy-out gives company designs on further success
A Dewsbury-based print and design firm has been bought by its management for an undisclosed sum.
Established in 1983, Arkima provides a range of marketing related services including creative design, image management, page production, print procurement and fulfilment.
The business, which currently employs 32 people, has been bought from its parent company Bretton Communications Group by managing director Richard Holmes, Chairman John Ward and operations director, Steve Bonnell.
The firm is now expecting turnover to double to £7 million over the next year and has added to its offices in Dewsbury and Milton Keynes by opening an Edinburgh office this month.
Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance's Yorkshire office is providing asset based lending facilities against the firm's receivables to allow the business to expand at its current rate.
Arkima was the second fully digital reproduction company in the UK but has since evolved to become a marketing services business working with clients such as the Trinity Mirror Group, Airtours, Morrisons and Cosmos.
The company is also aiming to build upon its success in the catalogue production market by investing further in its Imagecare technology platform, which provides an efficient mechanism for the creation, storage and retrieval of complex graphic data.
Richard Holmes, managing director of Arkima, said: "The business has remained competitive and successful by adopting new technology and diversifying to meet market demands.
"The MBO gives us fresh impetus to continue developing and cross selling our services and a number of large new print management contracts will see us expand rapidly over the coming months.
"Our long-term relationship with Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance has provided us with the necessary support during the deal and will ensure we are well placed to capitalise on our position in the market going forward."
Emma Hart, client manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance's Yorkshire office, said: "Demand for marketing and print management services has grown significantly as companies seek to outsource non-core business processes.
"The MBO will enable Arkima to focus on capturing a larger share of this multibillion pound industry by developing its geographical coverage and expanding its range of services.
"Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance will continue to provide the working capital necessary for the business to meet its contractual commitments and to give them the headroom needed as it establishes the Scottish office."
Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance is part of the Lloyds TSB Group plc.
Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance is part of the Lloyds TSB Group plc.
