One of the biggest acquisitions within the print industry this year is now complete, with IVE Group successfully acquiring the assets of Franklin Web and 100 per cent of AIW Printing shares. 

IVE revealed the $116m investment less than 10 days ago, which will see the company’s expansion into the large format web offset sector and bolster its current offering to the retail sector.

It has been smooth transaction so far for IVE, with consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) last week revealing it would not probe the acquisition.  

The successful completion comes as IVE division Blue Star yesterday bought Display Bay from owner Nevile Sundel, its fifth acquisition of the year.

However the ACCC has launched an informal review into another print industry consolidation, the PMP and IPMG merger, with its findings slated for reveal on December 22.

PMP shareholders will have their say on December 16 during PMP’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) with a vote to either oppose or approve the deal.

This acquisition of AIW and Franklin by IVE means there are now only two main players in the heatset web offset market, IVE and the merged PMP IPMG business.

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