8th Apr 2009

WAA completes further acquisition

WAA has completed its second acquisition of the year with the purchase of Converge Control, a specialist print management and procurement business. The deal is a further realisation of Sutton Coldfield-based WAA's strategic growth plan as it establishes its place as the largest independent marketing services group outside of London.

The deal follows WAA's acquisition in January of MarketingNet, an international web development and design company. The same month, WAA also recruited four key members of the Twist Marketing team following the closure of their agency.

Converge Control was founded in 2005 and provides a range of print management services to blue chip organisations. Services include print procurement, print supply chain management and stock handling, and the company has a proven track record in delivering demonstrable cost savings for clients. The company has also developed a software product, Control-IT, which allows clients to manage their print supplies via a user-friendly web-based interface.

The business has been renamed Converge Print Management Ltd and has become the third business to make up the WAA group of companies, joining advertising agency WAA and database and marketing intelligence provider Send Marketing Solutions.

WAA chief executive Andrew Wilson explains: "The WAA group of companies has developed considerably in recent years. The addition of Converge to the portfolio adds another noteworthy string to our bow and contributes significantly towards ensuring we stay in the best position to meet changing client requirements whatever their size, stature or need. The business proposition aligns well with the group's policy of delivering a tangible return on our clients' investment, and the combined Send and Converge offer is especially compelling during recessionary times.

"Despite challenging trading conditions, WAA is financially, culturally and structurally prepared for acquisitional growth and today's announcement is further evidence of our intentions."

Converge founder and managing director Guy Thornbery will continue to manage the business, and two further employees have transferred to the new entity. The business will be based at Send's premises in Aldridge, with further production facilities located near Manchester.