Midland paper merchant with £230m turnover sold

Minworth-based RADMS Paper Limited, owners of Premier Paper, has been sold to Japan Pulp & Paper Co, Ltd (JPP).

JPP’s share acquisition of the UK’s leading paper merchant will future-proof its growth strategy as the company increases its global market share and cements its position as the world’s leading paper distributor.

The acquisition sees JPP complete its acquisition of RADMS, which has 250 staff,  in two tranches.

Approximately 8.5 million tonnes of paper and paperboard are ordered every year in the UK. To meet that demand, RADMS’s has established, through Premier Paper, 18 facilities throughout the UK and increased sales and profits by growing markets such as packaging, converted paper products and POS displays and graphics, which includes digital applications.

Dave Allen, managing director of Premier Paper, said: “We are delighted to become part of the JPP group of companies.

“It’s provided us with an opportunity to expand and develop our wholesale business activity within the UK and secured a very bright future for everyone concerned.”

Gateley Legal provided legal advice for the deal and Chris Reed, Corporate partner in the Birmingham office of Gateley Legal, said it had a long-standing relationship with RADMS Paper Ltd.

“We advised the founders, Courtney Candler and Graham Griffiths originally, and latterly the management team, including non-executive director, Malcolm Cook, over the last ten years,” he said.

“This transaction deal is testament to the vision of the founders and to the hard work of everyone at the company.”