APN aims to become Number 1 regional publisher

Small business bolt-on investments will gradually lift the newspaper publishing company  to the top.

After spending $110 million on acquisitions in 2007, the company's chief executive, Brendan Hopkins, said that the search was still on for potential publications in both the print and online sphere. But he ruled out any dramatic takeover bids as the newspaper industry settles in after a surge of consolidation.

"We are always looking at small, bolt-on acquisitions," Hopkins told the AFR. "We're always looking at small regional newspapers and magazines that might be for sale and looking at buying a few more shares in associate companies that are already in our group. But I don't see us making any big strategic moves at this stage."

With revenue and EBIT up by five per cent in 2007, APN plans to become the number-one regional publisher throughout Australia and New Zealand. In 2007, it gained 100 per cent ownership of Toowoomba Newspapers, along with other acquisitions including: Caloundra City News, Queensland and Simply You magazine, New Zealand.

Construction is also underway for a new press centre at Ballina, NSW, with the Rockhampton and Toowoomba press centres almost completed. Upgrades to the Mackay press centre are complete, with colour upgrades scheduled in Wanganui and Tauranga, New Zealand.

In its half year presentation, APN was only able to speculate that 2008 be successful: "APN's broad range of high quality media assets in diverse geographic markets will, once again, perform well in 2008."