The newspaper publisher, which produces the Kiama Independent, Lake Times and Wollongong & Northern Leader, dates back to 1863.

The deal was first mooted in November last year and was followed by an ACCC investigation.

Fairfax already publishes a number of papers in the region, including paid-for daily Illawarra Mercury as well as free weeklies the Kiama Advertiser, Wollongong Advertiser and Shellharbour Advertiser.

The ACCC announced it would not oppose the deal in a ruling on 14 December 2010.

The Southern Independent titles are printed at Marrickville-based Spot Press, which runs a fleet of Goss presses, including five Goss Community towers.

IPMG chief executive Stephen Anstice confirmed to ProPrint that the sale was proceeding and is expected to complete shortly.

The deal marks the final piece of IPMG’s print publishing business to be sold off. It sold its magazine arm, FPC, to News Ltd in 2006.

However, the company’s online publishing arm, Independent Digital Media, recently launched print editions of websites The Knot and Younger You. 

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