Chorley photography firm acquires international creative agency

Commercial photography company Blink-Photo Limited has acquired a creative agency with offices in Staffordshire and China.

The Chorley-based business, operating under parent company Blink Group Limited, snapped up CIC Creative for seven figures as part of a strategy to establish a full-service offering.

Before the acquisition, Blink Group employed 50 staff across its Blink-Photo Limited and Blink MCR Limited businesses, which boast a combined turnover of over £4m.

The company was founded in 2006 and focuses on commercial photography services for the homeware, food and fashion industries.

With the purchase of CIC Creative, 36 employees and a turnover of £2.2m will join Blink Group.

The team at CIC will remain in their current roles and continue to operate as normal.

CIC’s offering covers CGI, branding, video production, product design and digital services, with clients including global bike share business Mobike, appliances giant Morphy Richards and Port Vale Football Club.

Lancashire accountancy firm MHA Moore and Smalley advised Blink-Photo Limited on the deal. The Manchester office of Allied Irish Bank (GB) provided funding.

Blink Group director Steven Livesey said: “We’ve been looking to diversify our services for a couple of years now so when CIC became available we jumped at the chance.

“It’s a company that we have been aware of for a while and it’s always produced incredible work.”

He continued: “We’re getting an exceptional ready-made team with a ready-made customer base from CIC. The specialisms of the two-company’s complement each other well. This is an opportunity for us to grow our team of experts and establish ourselves in the market as a full-service offering.

“The acquisition also means that we’re branching out internationally, which is very exciting for us and most importantly our clients. The studio in China will allow clients to become more efficient by producing photography and CGI at source, designing marketing collateral and selling items before they have arrived in the UK.”

CIC commercial director Jon Hills commented: “Becoming part of Blink Group strengthens CIC in terms of our skills and facilities, it also offers a huge boost to our clients and what we can offer them.

“It’s a pleasure to be working alongside Steven and Emma and we are looking forward to the future.”

Paul Bennett, corporate finance senior manager at MHA Moore and Smalley, led the deal team.

He said: “Blink Group Limited has been a client of ours since it formed twelve years ago and it’s incredible to have watched it grow into a multi-million-pound international company.

“The deal will provide positive efficiencies for everyone involved, including the firm’s customers enabling the enlarged group to offer a much wider range of services to the existing customers of both Blink and CIC and to new clients.”

Relationship manager Danny Pennington led the Allied Irish Bank (GB) team. David Filmer, of law firm Harrison Drury, provided legal advice to Blink Group Limited. Alex Chapman, Anton Stirrett and Guy Pattison from Bermans Solicitors acted for Allied Irish Bank (GB).