Richard Rasmussen’s Market Watch – October 2013
Richard Rasmussen, director of Ascent Partners, casts a watchful eye over market activities for the past month, from mergers and acquisitions, to closures and affiliations, as well as keeping tabs on any major equipment that’s been sold or installed around the region.
There were some major announcements during the month including the world’s largest printer, RR Donnelly acquiring Consolidated Graphics, a few closures, some acquisitions, and some major plant sold across most sectors.
Market movements:
Locally, National Trade Print and their subsidiary, Media Options (NSW), have gone into voluntary administration. Also in NSW, Eg Print went into liquidation, while Hervey Print (VIC) had their creditors’ meeting for voluntary creditor’s liquidations.
There were two sale / acquisitions announced this month - Imagination Graphics (NSW) has bought up Amazing Paper, and APN News and Media has sold out its stake in APN Outdoor to Quadrant Private Equity.
In other news, Lamson Paragon (VIC) opened a new plant, Kwik Kopy Surrey Hills changed ownership, and Labelmakers Group WA entered into a joint venture with Label World, the WA division of Labelcraft.
Suppliers
There were two local sales - Cello Central (NSW) sold to Avon Graphics, and Pacific Film sold to Jet Technologies. Globally, Cleardrop was sold to MGI and Metrix was bought up by EFI.
In NSW, GJS Machinery has moved and opened up a new showroom, and Chief Media opened a new branch in Victoria.
Machinery
There was a very good spread of installations in most sectors.
Ferrostaal announced Komori sales to Rawson Graphics (NSW), a H-UV LS 529, to Whirlwind (VIC), a GL 840 H-UV, and installations of a GL 540 plus coater to the Bright Print Group, and another press to Printforce in WA.
Heidelberg reported installing two presses to Southern Colour (VIC), a XL 106-10 and Xl 106-6 plus coater. They also sold a XL 75-5 press to the Worldwide Hub (WA)
KBA reported the installation of a 106-10 press to Picton Press.
Digital was not to be outdone though with Fuji Xerox reporting they have locally sold nearly 200 J75 digital printers since February this year. The Digital Print Centre (NSW) also installed a Xerox I Gen 150 Digital Press.
Imagination Graphics (NSW) installed a Konica Minolta Biz Hub C8000 and Heidelberg installed a Linoprint C751 EX to Mulqueen Printers (VIC).
Scodix reported two installations of its S74 Pro to Port Printing (WA) and an unnamed NZ customer, both through The Currie Group.
The wide format sector also reported a good many installations - Landell Signs (VIC) picked up two VUTek GS 3250 LX Pro LED UV grand format printers through Spicers, while Kodan Oz (VIC) bought a swissQprint Oryx digital flat bed, Allprint (NSW) a swissQprint Impala, Australian Corporate Signage an Agfa Anapurna 2050, Sign-A-Rama Oakleigh (VIC) a Roland DG Soljet Pro 4 XR-640 printer cutter, and an Oce Procut 2500 L was installed to Gateway (WA).
CtP also featured strongly with Screen reporting Platewrite CtP units going in at Border Watch and Signature Labels (SA) amongst others, with a total nine sold since PacPrint. Centrum Printing (NSW) also installed a FujiFilm VLF Platemaker.
Businesses for Sale
Ascent Partners have eight businesses on the market including a couple of new listings in WA and NSW – see www.ascentpartners.com.au
Market Watch
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