Merger creates NZ's largest independent publishing business

Wednesday 12th May 2010

HB Media, the company behind magazines Idealog and Good, has merged with Tangible Media to form New Zealand's largest independent publishing business.
The new company, Tangible Media, will be part of the Image Centre Group. Tangible has a stable of titles including Dish, NZ Retail and NZ Rugby World.
It was formed after Image Centre acquired the titles published by Jones Publishing.
The new Tangible will publish 13 of its own magazines, 10 customer titles, nine websites and several events. It will also manage AUT Media, the publishing arm of AUT University, a contract previously owned by HB Media.
Image Centre executive director Mike Hutcheson says Image Centre have been associated with the HB team since inception and printed its magazines.

The business will managed by a senior team of experienced publishers including Martin Bell, and Vincent Heeringa from HB Media and John Baker and Julian Andrews who are already with Tangible.

"The combined talent pool of the merged company will make it a formidable force in the publishing world," Hutchenson says.
The terms of the deal are confidential, however Bell and Heeringa will become shareholders in the merged business. The merger is scheduled to start on July 1.

Baker says the addition of HB will create a dream team of publishing talent.

"We have been big fans of HB for many years and have often discussed the potential to collaborate. Like us, HB has a fundamental commitment to delivering world-class editorial experiences to engage with their audiences, be it in print or online."

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