Keighley’s SA Labels acquired by Reflex Group

Keighley-based SA Labels Ltd has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by the Reflex Group Ltd, a supplier of labels, flexible packaging and graphic services.

SA Labels will be remaining at its current site in Keighley, but Reflex plans to expand SA Labels through investment in new machinery and an increase in the size of the work force.

Established in 2002 through a management buy-in of Easdale Labels of Yorkshire, Reflex has since grown rapidly with a targeted series of acquisitions in related fields and is currently headquartered in Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.

Including SA Labels, Reflex now employs 521 people at 14 locations across the UK including Castleford and Barnsley. Sales this year are expected to exceed £70m.

SA Labels, which was founded in 1984, employs 42 people at its site in Keighley and has sales of around £6m. The company is one of the UK’s largest printers of bespoke high quality labels for the beverage, food, personal care and beauty industries.

Jonathan Hutton, managing director, will continue in his role at SA Labels alongside Mike Reynolds, sales director.

Ian Kendall, chief executive of Reflex, commented: “We are very pleased to have brought this high quality business into the group. It’s profitable with a great team and everyone at Reflex is looking forward to integrating it into the family and moving forward together.”

Jonathan Hutton, managing director of SA Labels, added: “Being part of the Reflex Group will allow SA Labels to further our reputation for innovation and customer service and allow us to enter the next exciting phase of growth and investment. We are delighted with the transaction and the fact that we remain part of a privately owned UK business. We are all looking forward to working with our new colleagues at Reflex.”

Mike Reynolds, sales director SA Labels, also said: “It’s fantastic to be joining with the Reflex Group for our company and our customers. We will be able to offer our customers a wider range of print processes, innovations and the reassurance of being multi-sited. It truly is a very exciting time.”

The deal was arranged by RSM Corporate Finance in Leeds with Jim Whittaker, Amy Lewis and James Atkinson advising SA Labels on the deal.

Jonathan Oxley of Lupton Fawcett Denison Till acted as legal advisers to SA Labels. RSM UK Tax and Accounting (Richard Wilson) provided tax advisory work.

John Heaphy and Freya Summers of Freeths in Nottingham acted as legal advisers to Reflex, and is the 15th transaction John has advised on for Reflex.

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