Acquisitions create £80m-turnover marketing services group

Marketing support group GI Solutions has bought Kettering-based Eclipse Colour Print, Eclipse 4DM and Direct Link to create an £80m-turnover company.

The group is backed by Stratford-upon-Avon investment firm GIL Investments, which first invested in the business in 2008.

The Eclipse group of companies is a provider of commercial print, print management and direct mail services.

All the companies will continue to trade on their existing sites led by their existing management. GI Solutions has also appointed Sotos Constantinides as its new chief finance officer.

“This is a fantastic result for all concerned,” said chief executive Patrick Headley, adding “we have admired what Simon and the team have achieved for a long time. We are absolutely delighted we can now all work together with an ability to offer our customers an even wider range of services. The synergies are very strong and the whole team at GI are very excited about the future”.

The Birmingham office of Catalyst Corporate Finance acted as lead advisers on the whole finance raising process and acquisition, while Gateley and KPMG also advised on the deal. The acquisitions were financed by the Midlands team of HSBC Corporate and Tosca Debt Capital. 

Jeremy Harrison, partner at Catalyst Corporate Finance, said: “Eclipse is a high quality, complementary business and the enlarged group will be a powerful force in marketing communications.”