Dawson Holdings expands in Kent

The consolidation of the newspaper distribution sector has taken another turn with Dawson Holdings, the third largest player, making a further push into Kent.

Morningstar.co.uk Editors 19 June, 2006 | 4:04PM
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Dawson has paid £5m for JG Palmer’s news wholesaling business and Palmer is returning the compliment by buying 1.2m new Dawson shares at a cost of about £1.5m, implying a price per share of 125p.

Palmer is an independent newspaper and magazine wholesaler operating in Kent. It owns other smaller business activities which are not part of the acquisition.

Palmer’s most recent accounts, for the 12 months to 27 March last year, showed newspaper wholesaling accounting for turnover of £38.3m but Dawson won about £10m of that in recent tendering for contracts and is now snapping up the lot.

The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in Dawson's first full financial year following the acquisition.

Question marks hang over newspaper and magazine distribution with the Office of Fair trading uncertain whether the current system, dominated by WH Smith, Menzies and Dawson, is restricting competition.

Dawson has been keen to consolidate its position and has made recent contract gains in the North West and South East of England and in North Wales.

Dawson shares added 3p to 123p today and are recovering a little ground lost earlier this year when the OFT inquiry helped to push them down from 165p to 115p. It is hard to see them going far until the uncertainties are resolved.

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