Huddersfield-based Leach, the 127-year old graphic display specialist, has been bought by French-owned Chargeurs, a global manufacturing and services group.
Based in 34 countries on five continents, Chargeurs has bought the Leach Impact and Leach Inspire divisions of the company for an undisclosed sum. Leach Studio will continue to be privately owned by directors Richard Leach and Jim Parkin.
Chargeurs is no stranger to the Leach brand having supplied the Pearl fabric – Leach’s best-selling print material used in its iconic lightboxes – for the past seven years.
MD Richard Leach said: “Having experienced 10 years of consecutive growth, we have been planning how to pursue the next chapter of our journey for some time.
“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.
“Leach started out life in 1891, when my great-grandfather opened a one-man photographic studio, in Brighouse. This family legacy is something the family shareholders were incredibly keen to preserve and build upon, and is one of the main reasons why Chargeurs – with a 146-year-old story of its own – was such a great fit.”
Leach said the move would “fuel even greater product give its staff innovation and customer satisfaction”.
From its 30,000 sq ft Huddersfield base, Leach works with clients including Gap, Regatta and Barburrito. It employs 100 people and has a turnover of £11m.
Chargeurs, which works with some of the world’s leading fashion houses, is a €533m business of which more than 90% was generated outside France with plans to double its turnover to €1bn in the next five years.
Leach CEO Richard Leach and Chargeurs Director of International Development Sampiero Lanfranchi shake hands on the deal, flanked by Senior Managers from both companies.
Pictured: Leach CEO Richard Leach and Chargeurs’ director of international development Sampiero Lanfranchi shake hands on the deal
