Agency Printing is sold to NZ conqueror, Pacific Print Group

Following weeks of speculation as to the identity of the second Sydney printer to complement Pacific Print Group’s buyout of Vega Press in Melbourne, Vega report industry sources confirm the deal for Agency is about to be closed. The takeover consolidates PPG’s presence as a major player in the sheetfed market along the east coast of Australia and as a trans-Tasman printing powerhouse. It continues the strategy of targeting well run, high capacity printing companies equipped with the latest technology.

There is industry specuation that another high-profile Melbourne prnting company is likely to be bought by the dynamic New Zealand entrepreneur in the near future.

Agency Printing is jointly owned by brothers Don and Geoff Elliot and Noel Boltwood, and has a turnover of around $20 million. In the past few years it has pursued an aggressive development programme, moving to new premises while upgrading its press fleet with Heidelberg Speedmaster eight-colour and 10-colour presses, as well as spending three quarters of a million dollars on Heidelberg finishing equipment at last year’s drupa. Another eight-colour Speedmaster is on order for delivery next year. Screen provides the company’s high-end prepress and platemaking systems.

The end result is Don Elliott’s claim that Agency is “one of the most modern printing plants in Australia. We’re the only company that is geared to take CIP4 jobs right through to bindery, but there are no jobs yet where we can use it,” he said.

Elliott, who is the publisher of industry trade mag Proprint denies he is considering retiring and vows to be around for a few years yet. “ It’s part of the deal anyway,” he said.