Sentio Partners has advised the shareholders of Huddersfield-based graphic display specialist A H Leach on the sale of its Leach Impact and Leach Inspire divisions to French owned Chargeurs.
Based in Huddersfield, Leach is a 127-year-old graphic display specialist employing over 100 people and revenue of £11million, with key clients including Gap, Regatta and Barburrito.
The €533m-turnover Chargeurs is listed on the Paris stock exchange, and operates across four segments including temporary surface protection, garment interlinings, technical substrates and combed wool. Chargeurs is a global manufacturer, operating across 5 continents in 34 countries, and has supplied Pearl fabric, Leach’s best-selling print material used in its lightboxes, for the past seven years.
Leach Studio will continue to be privately-owned by directors and exiting shareholders Richard Leach and Jim Parkin.
Richard Leach said: “Having experienced ten years of consecutive growth, we have been planning how to pursue the next chapter of our journey for some time,” he said. “A key part of our long-term strategy has been to attract investment that will allow us to generate more international sales and to keep our growth record going. But finding the best-fit business to acquire us, was crucial.
“The acquisition of Leach in the United Kingdom is part of the successful implementation of our Game Changer strategy for operational excellence at Chargeurs Technical Substrates. With the acquisition of a major player and market leader that shares a similar long-term, international vision to our own, we are moving up the technical substrates value chain at an ever faster pace. We are delighted to combine our teams to accompany Leach in this change in scale”, added Michaël Fribourg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chargeurs.
Will Arnold, Andrew Barlow and Rob Pettican advised the shareholders on the transaction.
“During the period of their leadership Richard and Jim have developed and enhanced the reputation of this long established family business. Following the acquisition they leave it in the very capable hands of an outstanding senior management team, supported by the resources and expertise of the Chargeurs group.” added Will Arnold
