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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Jon Robinson

Huge printing site up for sale after 250 jobs lost

A huge printing site on Merseyside which is set to close down at the end of the month has been put up for sale.

Prinovis UK revealed in November last year that its facility in Speke would close with the loss of around 250 jobs.

At the time, the company said it had seen a "significant decline" in the publication printing market since 2019. It also cited "huge increases" in the price of paper.

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The 627,217 sq ft building is located within Estuary Business Park and is being marketed by CBRE's industrial and logistics and office agency teams. The asking price has not been disclosed.

CBRE’s building consultancy and geomatic teams have also been instructed to undertake all technical due diligence, topographic and full measured surveys, together with phase one site investigation environmental reports.

In addition to the building, the site also has further expansion land of nearly 27 acres, which could deliver in excess of 350,000 sq ft.

Neil Kirkham, senior director at CBRE, said: "We are delighted to be appointed by Prinovis UK to market this significant site in Liverpool.

"Due to the site’s strategic location and exceptional attributes in Utilities, CHP, existing accommodation and huge expansion or redevelopment opportunities, we have already seen a lot of interest, from both manufacturing owner occupiers, developers and investors."

CBRE director Darren Hill added: "The Prinovis UK site represents a unique opportunity to acquire the Freehold interest in a site of c.50 acres in a market where supply of industrial and logistics space as well as development sites is at an all time low and demand at an all time high.

"Combine this with the utilities infrastructure and in particular the c 18.4MVA power supply capacity, which is unprecedented, the site represents a fantastic opportunity, for a varied cross section of potential purchasers."

Prinovis is the UK's last remaining publication gravure printer with sales last year of more than £46m.

In its statement in November 2022, Prinovis UK's managing director Richard Gray said: "Despite some successes winning new customers in recent months Prinovis UK has continued to see revenues and volume decline.

"Over the past two years Prinovis UK has implemented restructuring changes and initiated cost savings in an attempt to make the business viable.

"However, the continued market decline and the huge increases in raw material costs particularly energy have proven that the previous changes have been insufficient to avoid Prinovis UK operating at financial loss in 2022.

"Bertelsmann has supported Prinovis UK through a challenging period in order to determine whether a market recovery would occur post pandemic and to allow sufficient time to review business options to identify whether a profitable position could be regained.

"Unfortunately, macro-economic events have continued to increase pressure and there continues to be insufficient volume to enable the business to realistically return to profitability.

"Consequently, we have recently undertaken a review of the business to consider all options.

"As a result of this review and the current market development, the company is with regret proposing to cease operations on 30 June 2023."

On the news at the time that around 250 jobs would be lost, the company added: "This will, of course, be disappointing news for our fantastic workforce who in many cases have been with the business for over 15 years.

"They have worked with the management team in difficult circumstances over the past two years to restructure, save cost and give the business the best chance to find a profitable future.

"The proposal today should in no way reflect on their dedication, commitment and performance over many years.

"We have together built an enviable reputation for customer focus, flexibility and delivering great quality products on time. I am sure we will all work hard to continue this level of professional performance in the coming months.

"It will also be disappointing news for our loyal clients and suppliers, many of whom have worked with our organisation for nearly 20 years.

"At this stage I must thank them all for their commitment to our business and assure them it is our intention to professionally manage our company through the coming months."

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