WEPA to Acquire All Shares in Northwood & WEPA jv in the UK

German tissue producer WEPA Hygieneprodukte has signed a contract to acquire all shares in Northwood & WEPA Joint Venture Ltd., located in the United Kingdom. Subject to normal formalities associated with such transactions completion is planned for July 5, 2018. 

With 230 employees, the production plant in Bridgend produces rolled products (toilet paper and kitchen towels) for the British consumer market. It has one paper machine with a capacity of 52,000 tpy and a converting capacity of 80,000 tpy. 

Martin Krengel, CEO of the WEPA Group, explains: "Since 2013 we have been holding a 50 percent share in the N&W Joint Venture. During this time, the company demonstrated its hygiene paper expertise in the UK consumer market. With the acquisition of all shares and with our outstanding team, the WEPA Group takes the opportunity to work even more intensively in the UK to generate further growth. With a total of 12 factories we are logistically very well positioned and can supply our customers with the usual reliability and quality."

The WEPA Group is one of the three largest suppliers in the European tissue market, with 3,800 employees and a turnover of approx. € 1.2 billion following the transaction. With this acquisition, WEPA is consequently implementing its strategy to further grow in the prosperous private label markets. By integrating the site into the corporate group, WEPA believes it is creating the opportunity to generate sustainable added value for its customers in the retail sector in the UK.