Latest industry consolidation move sees Jenrite NZ acquired by Aarque Group, a subsidiary of the BJ Ball organisation, which is a unit of Ball & Doggett Group – the A/NZ paper company and wide format supply business that was bought in 2017 by global paper giant Japan Pulp & Paper (JP). Jenrite MD Steven Kemp announced he’s retiring in September.
BJ Ball NZ, which bought Aarque Group in April 2018, said in a statement that the acquisition of wide format supplier Jenrite, effective July 30 2019, would be conducted through its Aarque business.
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| Aarque CEO Jason Bult (left), in Sydney last year to celebrate Roland's 30th anniversary, with Roland DG Australia president John Wall |
Aarque Group director and CEO Jason Bult said the addition of Jenrite would strengthen the company’s position in the “rapidly evolving” wide format digital print market.
“As part of the recent period of significant strengthening for the BJ Ball organisation, Aarque Group is pleased to announce our own first step in our progressive-future strategy – we will be merging with Jenrite NZ,” Bult said.
“This acquisition by Aarque Group will significantly increase our value-added offer, ensuring that you – our customer – will be presented with new opportunities, including increased access to the world’s best products from the industry’s technology leaders.
“As we are all aware, the wide-format digital print sector is a rapidly evolving environment, so over the coming months, we will looking to streamline our supply pipeline, plus enlarge our structure so you will receive unparalleled service and support. We are pleased to say that this will begin with the integration of the Jenrite team – many of whom will be joining us at Aarque.
“This is an exciting time for us as we look to innovate towards the future and position ourselves at the cusp of technology ensuring you remain competitive and informed with what is coming next.”
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| Steven Kemp, MD Jenrite |
Jenrite MD Steven Kemp announced he’s retiring from the industry later this year.
“Aarque recognises the goodwill that has been created through Jenrite’s strong relationships with our valuable customers and will protect that value by working hard to retain customer loyalty,” Kemp said.
“Business continuity is personally important so I have sought out a buyer who appreciates the business and the industry, will look after our customers, has a strong strategic plan, and is capable of developing its future potential. Aarque Group was the ideal acquirer and I look forward to working with its management team and staff in this transition until my retirement at the end of September 2019.
“I would like to sincerely thank all who have supported the Jenrite business over many years and I am confident the Aarque team will continue to support you in pursuit of your future success.”
Aarque Group, established over 70 years ago, is a leading NZ provider of digital print solutions.
In 2017, two of Australia’s big three paper merchants BJ Ball and KW Doggett merged into Ball & Doggett before being bought by Japan Pulp & Paper, which paid about $A75m for a 51% majority share in the new business, which owns BJ Ball AU, BJ Ball NZ and KW Doggett.
BJ Ball New Zealand
BJ Ball was founded in Sydney in 1918, then moved across the Tasman and established its first New Zealand site in the heart of Auckland City in 1921. BJ Ball New Zealand is now part of the wider Ball & Doggett Group. The years that followed saw expansion into other regions including Tauranga and Wellington in the North Island, and Christchurch and Dunedin in the South Island. BJ Ball is now New Zealand’s largest distributor of print media, supplying paper, packaging, plastics, foils and more, to our diverse range of customers within the NZ print and communication sectors.
Ball & Doggett
Ball & Doggett, Australia’s largest distributor of printable materials and consumables, is part of the OVOL Group, owned by Japan Pulp & Paper.
