Esmark has acquired North Aurora, IL-based Premier Resource Group LLC, a service center specializing in pre-painted steel products with annual revenues of $30 million. The combined revenues of the Esmark steel services family of companies now exceed $700 million. Esmark has made at least eight acquisitions since 2003.

In making the announcement, Esmark Chairman and CEO James P. Bouchard said, "The acquisition of Premier Resources Group greatly expands our ability to offer customers a just-in-time solution for an array of painted steel products. We're confident this addition to the Esmark family of companies will accelerate our growth in the painted products segment of the industry."

Founded in 2001, Premier Resource Group serves the commercial/residential construction, garage door, office furniture and appliance industries with a range of cold-rolled and galvanized painted steel applications and products.

Headquartered in Chicago and founded by the Bouchard Group, Esmark is a steel services family of companies. The mission of Esmark is strategic consolidation, operating efficiency and management excellence in the steel service center sector of the global steel marketplace.

Esmark was launched in 2003 with the acquisition of Electric Coating Technologies LLC, East Chicago, IN, and Sun Steel Co., Chicago Heights, IL, for about $20 million. Its biggest purchase to date has been Piqua, OH-based Miami Valley Steel Services Inc. for $81 million earlier this year. Miami Valley Steel Services had $150 million in revenues in 2004.