Michael Hannan set to expand IPMG printing division

In a rare interview with the Australian Financial Review, Michael Hannan, managing director at IPMG, lifted the veil on his company's traditionally reclusive relationship with the press.

Hannan spoke on the future of Federal Publishing's strategic direction, claiming he intends to ramp up its six per cent share of the Australian magazine market. This will increase the level of competition with one of his major customers, the largest magazine company in Australia, Packer-owned ACP.

He also flagged his intention to expand the printing operations of the company, which is Australia's largest privately owned print group. IPMG is mainly a web printing business although it retains significant sheetfed capacity.

In the interview, Hannan lamented the lack of good takeover targets, claiming that the businesses he wants are either too expensive or not for sale, while the ones that are available do not offer good prospects for acquisition.

"Every aspect of the group is in growth phrase," Hannan said, "but the lack of good quality acquisition opportunities is frustrating."

The group has already spent over $30 million in upgrading and expanding its landmark Alexandria NSW site over the past two years. The IPMG stable includes companies such high profile printing companies as Hannanprint, Offset Alpine, the Inprint Group and Craft Printing.

The group currently performs work for such high-profile clients as Betta Electrical, Coles Myer and Harvey Norman, as well as IPMG's competition in the publishing market such as ACP, John Fairfax and News Limited.