Marketing services provider Communisis plc has announced that it has acquired the trade and assets of marketing communications company Orchestra Bristol Limited.

Orchestra, which is currently in administration, was acquired for a cash sum of £2.25m.
 
The principal contract at OBL is for marketing communication and transactional mailing involved in the issuance of TV Licences in the UK, and includes some associated online new channel activity.

“I am very pleased to announce this acquisition and to have been entrusted with the contract for TV licensing, which by its mission-critical nature plays to Communisis’ strengths as the leading provider in our sector,” said Andy Blundell, chief executive of communisis.

“Today’s developments underline our strategic intent at Communisis to focus increasingly on specialist activity and in supporting clients’ critical customer communications. Our existing activities and expertise, and the investments we have made in data, and in higher-end colour personalisation provide us with a substantial advantage in this market space.”

Around 25 million licences are issued in the UK every year and there is substantial activity involving targeted marketing communication, to optimise revenue collection.