Premier has acquired Dublin paper merchant GPMI just weeks after completing its acquisition of box supplier WBC. That caused ripples because WBC is a downstream converter. This a conventional deal which allows Premier to expand its footprint into the Irish market.
GPMI currently has sales of €28 million across commercial and display print sectors. It employs 50, with no changes foreseen. Premier has sales of £187 million.
GPMI managing director Enda Brophy welcomes the deal saying: “Being part of Premier will open up many opportunities for GPMI and will allow us to further develop our service offer and product choice to our customers. Being part of Premier and the wider global OVOL Japan Pulp & Paper Group gives our customers and suppliers confidence and reassurance of our commitment to the future of the print and graphical communications market. I am looking forward to starting the next phase of our development during 2023 as part of the Premier organisation.”
As well as paper and other substrates for the display sector, GPMI offers Agfa printing plates, large format inkjet printers from Mimaki and Agfa and inks for digital printing, cutting tables and other commercial print finishing technology. The product range is unlikely to change.
As well as a head office in Dublin GPMI has a branch office in Belfast. This will be Premier’s first operation in Northern Ireland.
GPMI lists a number of now discontinued StoraEnso coated papers on its website as well as Sappi and Condat grades. The more extensive range that Premier represents will be able to fill gaps in GPMI’s offerings.
The deal comes after Premier bought corrugated packaging designer and provider WBC in November last year, this coming a few months after buying laminating and packaging files supplier Zulu. Premier CEO Michael Beever says: “GPMI is an exciting addition to the group and opens up a new geographical market for Premier. These latest acquisitions are consistent with our strategy of achieving good organic growth, based on our traditional paper merchanting foundations, together with selected acquisitions in new but complementary markets “
Premier’s move into Ireland follows the earlier incursion by EBB which bought Dublin merchant Uniboard in 2019.
