CORPORATE finance experts from BDO Stoy Hayward in Southampton have led, structured and advised the management buy-out of Fareham-based Ashford Colour Press.

The deal sees Robert Hutcheson, Allan Gray, Mark Jones and John Temlett take over the company which specialises in providing high quality printed materials to a blue chip client base in the educational and journal sectors. The business has a turnover in excess of £10 million and employs more than 110 people.

Managing director Robert Hutcheson said: "When the majority shareholder, and then managing director, advised us that he wanted to retire in a couple of years we saw it as an excellent opportunity to buy and expand the business. We are pleased to have persuaded him to stay on as a consultant and look forward to continuing to provide an excellent service to our customers. The team at BDO Stoy Hayward provided determined support and led us through the maze of issues in such transactions."

Simon White, corporate finance partner, added, "It is always exciting to advise a team who have taken up the challenge to acquire and grow a business. The MBO was the first step and we are delighted our expertise helped them through it. This deal serves to show that despite global uncertainty, the market for smaller deal opportunities is alive and well. The south coast remains an important location for growing businesses."

Simon White led the team at BDO Stoy Hayward, which included Amanda Phillips and Andrew Nelson.

Funding for the transaction came from ProVen Private Equity Limited and Royal Bank of Scotland plc. Chris Allner, Director at ProVen, commented: "Ashford is a successful and growing business. It enjoys a reputation for providing high quality service and has a very promising future. The new funding now places Ashford in a strong position to meet new challenges and continue its impressive growth in the printing industry."

The management's legal adviser was Amanda Brockwell, Partner with Coffin, Mew & Clover Southampton.