Australia’s biggest magazine publisher up for sale

Australia’s biggest magazine publisher, Are Media, is on the market after its private equity owner Mercury Capital confirmed plans to sell the business it acquired five years ago.

Are Media was created through the merger of Bauer Media and Pacific Magazines, once fierce rivals and together the dominant force in Australian magazine publishing. Mercury Capital picked up the combined business for a reported $50 million in 2020, a fraction of the $565 million Bauer had originally paid for its Australian portfolio.

The publisher owns many of the country’s most recognisable titles, including Australian Women’s Weekly, Woman’s Day, New Idea and Better Homes and Gardens. But it remains under financial pressure. In 2022, Are Media posted a $10 million loss on revenues of $337 million, highlighting the structural challenges facing print media.

One of its most stable assets is its long-term print partnership with IVE, which handles production of almost all Are Media titles. IVE gained dominance in the sector after acquiring rival print operations and taking over contracts from the now-defunct Ovato. Any new owner of Are Media is widely expected to continue the relationship with IVE, given the lack of viable alternatives.

Mercury Capital may also look to divest parts of the business. Internal communications from CEO Jane Huxley suggest the company is open to separating out Are Direct – its freight and logistics arm – or other print-related assets. Are Media expanded into logistics with its 2021 acquisition of Ovato Retail Distribution, Australia’s largest magazine distributor, a move approved by the competition regulator.

The broader magazine sector in Australia remains volatile. Several legacy titles have shut down or changed hands in recent years. Some, like Harper’s BAZAAR Australia, have re-emerged under independent publishers, reflecting both disruption and pockets of opportunity.

Any buyer of Are Media will be acquiring a portfolio of established brands with broad reach but in a market still adapting to digital disruption, changing reader habits and the high cost of print.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The report is current, with the earliest known publication date being July 10, 2025. No earlier versions with differing figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies or recycled content were identified.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
No direct quotes were identified in the provided text.

Source reliability

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative originates from Print21, a publication focused on the printing industry. While it is a niche source, it is not widely known or easily verifiable, which introduces some uncertainty. The report is corroborated by other reputable outlets, such as The Spinoff and the Australian Financial Review, enhancing its reliability.

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims about Are Media being up for sale align with reports from other reputable outlets, such as The Spinoff and the Australian Financial Review. The narrative includes specific details about the company’s financials and its relationship with IVE, which are consistent with known information. The language and tone are appropriate for the topic and region.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is current, original, and supported by reputable sources. While the source is niche and not widely known, the information is corroborated by other reputable outlets, enhancing its reliability. No significant issues were identified, and the plausibility of the claims is high.