Media still in the dark over Fairfax printers

Could Fairfax Media be considering selling its printing plant portfolio, or perhaps even be joining forces with arch rival News Limited? These are just a few of the mind-boggling rumours being thrown about in the AFR.

The business paper reported that Fairfax Media is considering three options for its printing plant, the first being to sell it in order to repay debt. But this action was soon dismissed by the paper: "It appears that Fairfax ... would not be likely to take such a course, perhaps not unless there emerged a critical need for the funds, such as a compelling acquisition."

If a straight sale is out of the question, then so too is a sale and leaseback structure, which, according to the paper, would only result in "shuffling an interest expense to a lease payment."

Another rumour is that News Limit would exchange its regional Queensland publications, such as The Gold Coast Bulletin for the Fairfax business titles, the AFR and BRW Magazine. This, however, is likely to be rumour or not even that, concluded the paper: "This is even more unlikely than selling the printing plants - Fairfax has no intention of selling the AFR, and hasn't any time during the past two decades when would-be raiders have approached the group."

If all of this sounds a little confusing then blame the AFR, not us.