BUSINESSMAN David Wallace is looking forward to a busy future after a frantic 18 months for his family company, Wallace Printers Limited.

From its modest origins in Derby Street in the 1940s, the company completed an £800,000 move to modern 18,000 square feet premises at Wingates Industrial Estate, Westhoughton, in 2003 in order to cope with its continued expansion.

This was followed recently by the purchase of Tameside Business Forms which involved relocating that business and its employees from Denton to Bolton.

The company was advised by Nick Hulme, corporate finance director at chartered accountants Barlow Andrews, with offices in Bolton and Darwen.

Mr Hulme said: "For business owners who are considering growing their businesses by acquisition, this can be quite daunting and will raise a myriad of questions regarding finding target companies, making approaches, valuation, financing and post-acquisition management.

"It was very rewarding to lead David through the process and to arrive at a successful outcome."

Mr Wallace said: "I was highly impressed with the professionalism of Barlow Andrews and the corporate finance team."

Wallace Printers Limited is a family business, having been established by Albert Wallace, David Wallace's grandfather, in 1946.

It specialises in business stationery, flat sheet printing and continuous printing and has major names such as TNT, the NHS and MBDA on its customer list.

Mr Wallace's son, Andrew, is also heavily involved in the business which takes the family's involvement into its fourth generation.