PE firm backs swoop for printer business

SIGNIFICANT investment from the Manchester base of private equity firm Equistone has enabled the Apogee Corporation to acquire Direct Business Systems, a specialist in multi-functional copiers, printers, scanners and support services headquartered in Glasgow.

Established in 1995, DBS is a family-led business with a strong reputation for customer-focused local support and service built up over 21 years of trading.
 
The firm counts many high profile organisations amongst its client base including distillers Whyte&Mackay, charity Sense Scotland and the logistics specialist the Malcolm Group.

DBS provides technology from four different manufacturer partners and the service operation supports an installed base of nearly 1,500 devices.

DBS will be fully integrated into the Apogee and directors Eric Chambers and Anne Chambers will continue to lead the business in Glasgow.

Jason Collins, Apogee joint chief executive, said: “Expanding our operation in Scotland has been one of our priorities for this year and I’m really delighted we have completed the DBS acquisition and achieved this goal. The reputation DBS has is phenomenal, Eric and Anne have built a business with true customer vision and great service support, and I’m looking forward to welcoming them into the Apogee Group to drive our growth in Scotland.”

Eric Chambers, managing director of DBS, who alongside his wife and fellow Director Anne set the business up, said: “Our philosophy has always been ‘we see our business from a different point of view – Yours!’ meaning we must always understand to what our customers need and perceive.”

Apogee has offices in Manchester, Birmingham, Wakefield, Newcastle and Bangor.

This is the third acquisition Apogee Corporation has completed this year.