Premium Guard Inc. announced the successful completion of Phase 2 of its acquisition of key assets of First Brands Group in a recent press release.

The transaction included advanced production lines for oil, air, and cabin air filters located in Albion, Illinois, as well as key manufacturing equipment from the legacy FRAM facility in Greenville, Ohio. The Greenville assets will be consolidated into the Albion facility.

As part of the transaction, PGI has also acquired a state-of-the-art R&D center and laboratory dedicated to filtration technologies and water separation systems. The facility will serve as a center of excellence for product engineering, materials science, testing, validation, and advanced filtration technologies.

PGI plans to initially reinstate close to 300 jobs as part of the integration and restart of operations, with additional employment opportunities expected to be created in later phases as the business continues to scale. These positions include key management and technical talent across engineering, manufacturing, product management, production, and operations. The acquisition also included inventory assets located in both the United States and Mexico.

To support the expanded portfolio and future growth initiatives, PGI has entered into a lease agreement for a 730,000-square-foot distribution center in Hebron, Kentucky, and, as part of the transaction, acquired the machinery and equipment located at the facility from FBG. The facility will become PGI's fifth distribution center in North America.

The new distribution center will serve as the primary hub for several of the company's strategic brands, including Autolite, TRICO, and FRAM, and will play a key role in the relaunch and expansion of PGI's Luberfiner heavy-duty and industrial filtration programs. 

“We are incredibly excited to bring this transaction to a successful conclusion,” said  Anan Bishara, founder and CEO of Premium Guard Inc. “The acquired assets, combined with the dedication and expertise of our team, position PGI to further strengthen iconic brands such as Autolite, TRICO, and Luberfiner while continuing to invest aggressively in product innovation, customer service, and supply chain excellence.”