Book printing merger keeps Victoria and South Australia happy

The merger will see PMP and McPherson's own 50 per cent each of the joint venture, but the companies will continue to trade under their own names and at their own separate locations. "Both the Victorian and South Australian plants will remain as they are," PMP chief executive Brian Evans, assured the employees.

"It has been clear for some time the book printing industry faces headwinds, particularly from import competition," said Evans. "Individually, Griffin Press and McPherson's Printing are relatively small book printers in the context of the international marketplace, but together they will be better placed to offer an enhanced service and continue to invest in new print technology."

The new company will be headed by Alan Fahy who is currently chief executive of McPherson's Printing Group. Joining forces provides the ability to print in all book formats and a full range of colour and mono along with digital printing and binding capabilities.

Flexibility is one of the merger's key strengths according to Evans. "The combined operations of Griffin Press and McPherson's printing will ... effectively be a one-stop-shop for book printing requirements," he said. "We believe our book printing customers will value the greater flexibility the merged company offers."

Expected to have combined revenues of $115 million, Evans believes the customers will embrace the company. "The feedback we're getting is that customers will value the scale and flexibility that it will offer," he said. "This way customers get the best of both worlds. The Australian book business is all about speed-to-market and getting it out there quickly."

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