Richard Rasmussen’s Market Watch – September 2013

Richard Rasmussen, director of Ascent Partners, looks at all the local market’s activities over the last month from mergers and acquisitions to closures, major equipment sales and installations.

Perhaps the biggest news of the month was Print National in NSW entering receivership with the large debt left across their various business operations. Also in NSW we heard of Jager Sprinting, reportedly the 'largest independent digital printer in Sydney' integrating their business into the Snap organisation.

Mayer (NSW) moved to larger premises in Eastern Creek and bought digital in house with the installation of tow Swiss Q Print machines; an Oryx Flatbed and a Summa F Series cutter. Opus in NSW continued its quest to sell its outdoor division.

In Victoria we saw Australia Post open a new production facility which can produce large volumes of gummed and self-adhesive stamps, production of which we assume was previously undertaken by local printers.

The Midway Print Group (VIC) had their voluntary creditor’s liquidation meeting and local print identity, Peter Barnet launched a new Marketing Services business for the industry.

Suppliers

In the Australia/NZ region we saw Jet Technologies move to purpose built facilities in Roseberry (NSW), and Colorite Group (Auckland) and IMS Group (NSW) announce a joint venture.

Globally, Esko announced the planned acquisition of Cape Technologies, an international provider of supply chain management technologies.  Agfa announce the closure of its Italian printing plate factory.

Kodak also announced it had exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Machinery Installation and Sales

GT Print (QLD) installed a new Heidelberg XL 75 five colour press, and Madman (Vic) installed a new Polar 66 guillotine.

Digitally, as previously noted, we heard that Mayer installed a couple of Swiss Q Print machines, and Next Printing (NSW) installed a Dhurst Rotex 322 and Oce Procut 1600.

Double Impact Displays (NSW) installed a Roland Versa UV LEJ – 640 printer, and Gateway Printing (WA) installed a Canon Arizona 480 GT machine.

Businesses for Sale

Ascent Partners has nine print related businesses around Australia on the Market – See our web site, www.ascentpartners.com.au for more details.