Image Centre And Jones Announce New Joint Venture

5 December 2008

For immediate release

Image Centre And Jones Announce New Joint Venture

Two of the highest profile independent brands in magazines joined forces today, ushering in a new era of premium content creation and content management.

The publishing interests of Image Centre and Jones Publishing are to be rolled into one group. This was announced jointly today by Dave Atkins, CEO of Image Centre and John Baker, Director of Jones.

The new group will incorporate such titles as Dish, Top Gear NZ, NZ Rugby World, NZ Fishing World, Real Groove, Groove Guide and a number of contract magazines.

“We currently print or produce more than 50 titles through our print-hall, design studio and pre-media divisions, but own only a few of them.” said Atkins, “While up till now our publishing interests have been limited, by putting our resources together we achieve enormous economies of scale and add significantly to our expertise in the dark arts of publishing.”

Baker added, “In the difficult trading conditions experienced in recent times, and looking ahead over the next year or so, it makes huge sense for us to get together, combining the strength of the Image Centre group with our publishing expertise to create a significant player in the special interest arena.”

Founded in 1989, Image Centre has been a highly successful print, pre-press and interactive communications company and recently been the subject of a management buyout, led by Dave Atkins, former adman Mike Hutcheson, and company director Maurice Kidd. “Looking ahead in the short term we think organic growth will be difficult, so strategically, mergers and acquisitions will be key to our future success.” said Atkins.

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