Cliff Brigstocke goes after government printing

Two Canberra print companies are the latest acquisitions of the go-ahead PE-backed trans-Tasman OPUS Print Group, with more buy-outs expected in coming months.

The takeover of CanPrint and Union Offset, both operating out of the same location in Fyshwick, ACT, will give OPUS Print Group, an opening into the new territory of government printing.

The businesses are responsible for a number of restricted Government print work, which according to OPUS Print Group’s CEO, Cliff Brigstocke (pictured) makes the purchase complementary to book printer, Ligare.

“We want to join forces with businesses that are number-one in their field and have identified a niche position,” he said.

David Daniel, general manager of CanPrint believes that joining OPUS will offer a number of opportunities to grow and work in similar areas to that which his business is known for.

“We see significant opportunities in partnering with OPUS Print Group, particularly Ligare,” he said, adding that: “Ligare’s specialist offering is very complimentary to ours.”

No employees from either CanPrint or Union Offset were made redundant as a result of this purchase, which Brigstocke believes will boost OPUS’ revenue and total workforce by 50 per cent.

“We now have a scale and market position to be considered a major force in the Australian printing industry,” he said.

The growth doesn’t stop at Canberra. Brigstoke revealed that the group is already in negotiations with two other companies that are “not necessarily in the same space”. He expects it will be a matter of “several months” before either purchase is confirmed.

Brigstocke sees ongoing acquisitions as key to OPUS’ growth path.

“After the next two purchases we will probably pause for a while, but if we find a profitable, stand-alone business that fits our nice then we would obviously look seriously at it,” he said.