Venerable Sydney folding carton printer Anzpac has been sold to a buyer in Hong Kong after its Malaysian owner decided to offload the business.
The deal with the unnamed Hong Kong-based buyer is being finalised, and will see the Smithfield printer remain open, defying initial fears that Tien Wah Press Holdings (TWPH), the current Malaysia-based owner, would close Anzpac down and shed 69 jobs.
"The new owner will take over from the beginning of August, and will continue production at Smithfield and aim to grow the business from there," said Steve Arduin, acting head of operations at Anzpac.
Print21 understands that the business will no longer operate under the Anzpac name: "It'll be a new company," Arduin said.
Following last month's announcement by TWPH on the Bursa Malaysia stock exchange that Anzpac would be closed, the company sent a letter to suppliers assuring them it would remain in operation. “The new owner intends to continue printing production at the Smithfield site and continue to meet the existing supply requirements for the existing Anzpac customers without disruption. This change of ownership will have no impact on your supply arrangements,” Arduin wrote in June.
TWPH and Singapore-based New Toyo International Holdings purchased Anzpac in 2008. The company moved its gravure operations offshore last year.