Footprint Advances with Strategic Acquisition of Freedom-CS
Deal News | Mar 04, 2025 | EIN
Hampshire-based Footprint has recently completed its third acquisition within a year by taking a majority stake in Freedom-CS, a marketing firm, to develop a dedicated marketing business unit. With this acquisition, Footprint aims to reorganize under its holding company, HED Marketing Limited, into four distinct business units covering marketing, signage, advertising, and shared services. This strategic acquisition is led by Liz Clarke, former owner of Freedom-CS, who now serves as Director and Head of Marketing. This bolsters Footprint's ability to integrate diverse marketing entities in its group, enhancing its overall capabilities. The acquisition of Freedom-CS, which boasts a £450,000 operation, is a step towards internal restructuring following a corporate move to Swanwick and accompanies other strategic acquisitions in wide-format printing. Footprint is also pursuing further acquisitions to internalize its print operations, particularly in advertising circulars, which are currently outsourced. Darren Jacobs, Managing Director, detailed plans to reach turnover of £4 million in the current financial year while further focusing on customer-centered business expansions.
Sectors
- Marketing and Advertising
- Print and Publishing
Geography
- United Kingdom – Footprint and the newly acquired Freedom-CS are based in Hampshire, UK, and the company is expanding its reach within Southern England.
Industry
- Marketing and Advertising – The article discusses Footprint's acquisition of a marketing firm, Freedom-CS, which aligns with the company's strategy to strengthen its marketing capabilities.
- Print and Publishing – Footprint's operations include print and advertising services, which are integral to its business model and ongoing mergers and acquisitions strategy.
Financials
- 450,000 – Revenue of the newly acquired firm Freedom-CS.
- 700,000 – New business resulting from the acquisition of C3 Marketing.
- 1.7 million – Expanded operation of C3 Marketing within Footprint.
- 4 million – Projected turnover for Footprint in the current financial year.
- 300,000 – Annual cost Footprint incurs for outsourcing magazine printing.
- 3 million – Original turnover target following Footprint's acquisition, now surpassed.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footprint | Bidding Company | Company | A Hampshire-based marketing and print business expanding through acquisitions. |
| Freedom-CS | Target Company | Company | A marketing firm acquired by Footprint, specializing in AI and strategic marketing. |
| Liz Clarke | Director and Head of Marketing | Person | Former owner of Freedom-CS, now leading the marketing division at Footprint. |
| Darren Jacobs | Managing Director | Person | Managing Director of Footprint, overseeing the company's strategic growth and acquisitions. |
| C3 Marketing | Acquired Company | Company | A wide-format printer previously acquired by Footprint. |
| HED Marketing Limited | Holding Company | Company | Footprint's holding company, under which new business units are being structured. |