Datatrade has been acquired in a management buy-out for just under £500,000.

Printer support company Datatrade has been acquired in a management buy-out for just under £500,000.

The existing shareholders of Datatrade, Mark James, Sue James and Clive Lacey led the buy-out to create a new holding company, Datatrade Holdings.

Datatrade provides printer support and maintenance for warehouses and goods transport companies. It employs around 35 people, mostly field based engineers, and had a turnover of £2.5 million for the year ending September 2009.

The Northampton-based company was founded in 1981 and its current clients include Morrisons and John Lewis.
 
The buy-out includes the addition of new shareholders and the appointment of new directors to the board, Kevin Mansworth, Pete Laplanche and Justin Clubb.

The privately funded deal sees the management team acquire the 73 per cent shareholding of the company which was previously held by a trust.

Managing director Mark Jones, who held a 25 per cent stake in the family-owned company, becomes the majority shareholder.