Ennis Inc. Acquires Assets of Gulf Business Forms

Ennis Inc., Midlothian, Texas, has purchased assets — including customer lists and intellectual property — from Gulf Business Forms, a San Marcos, Texas-based trade printer with more than 50 years of experience producing custom-printed documents.

According to a press release, Gulf Business Forms customer files, as well as phones and emails, will be relocated to Ennis’ plant in Ennis, Texas. Customer input, product type and location best equipped to meet client needs will help determine the appropriate quoting and manufacturing facility for orders that Gulf Business Forms previously produced.

Known for its acquisition strategy, Ennis, the only print-centric company to rank within the top three of Print+Promo Marketing’s (PPM) most recent Top Suppliers list, roared into 2021 welcoming two new printers to its family of brands. When PPM spoke to Keith Walters, chairman, president and CEO of Ennis, in October, he told us that both deals served a specific need. Acquiring Roanoke, Virginia-based InfoSeal strengthened Ennis’ line of pressure sealers, a market that continues to gain attention thanks to its many uses, including promotional direct mail. (Just last week, the USPS reported that, in Q3 2022, marketing mail revenue had increased $324 million, or 9.4%, compared to the same quarter last year.)

Walters said the AmeriPrint deal was a strategic purchase that would give Ennis better access to the Chicago area. The Gulf Business Forms deal will also help Ennis further expand its national footprint.

“Gulf has been a strong competitor and leading brand throughout the country with customers spanning from California in the southwest to Massachusetts in the northeast,” Walters said in a statement. “We are excited about adding the Gulf brand and their customers to the Ennis family.”

Corporate Development Associates, a private intermediary firm catering to the North American and United Kingdom graphic arts industry, served as exclusive financial adviser to Gulf Business Forms.