IVE’s $35M Bet on Daily Press Could Reshape Its Creative & Content Future
IVE Group has agreed to acquire Australian creative agency Daily Press for up to $35 million, bolstering its digital, social, and performance marketing capabilities as part of its ‘Now to 2030’ growth strategy.
- Acquisition of Daily Press for up to $35 million
- Expected annual revenue and EBITDA contribution of $23 million and $5.5 million
- Integration into IVE’s Creative, Content & Integrated Solutions division
- Deal to be EPS accretive in 2026 with $1 million annual cost synergies
- Includes proprietary Martech platform Indy enhancing omni-channel offerings
Strategic Expansion in Creative & Content
IVE Group Limited (ASX – IGL) has taken a decisive step to deepen its foothold in the creative marketing space by acquiring Daily Press Pty Ltd, a Sydney-based agency known for its expertise in digital, social media, and performance marketing. The deal, valued at up to $35 million, aligns closely with IVE’s ambitious ‘Now to 2030’ strategy aimed at expanding its Creative & Content offerings and delivering a seamless omni-channel marketing proposition.
Daily Press, founded in 1999, brings a robust portfolio of services including social media management, branding, campaign development, and in-house content production such as video and animation. With around 65 employees and a diverse client base spanning hospitality, sports, retail, and franchise sectors, Daily Press offers IVE a valuable platform to accelerate growth in high-demand digital marketing areas.
Financial and Operational Impact
The acquisition is expected to contribute approximately $23 million in annual revenue and $5.5 million in EBITDA, with the transaction funded through IVE’s existing cash reserves and undrawn debt capacity. Notably, the deal is forecast to be mid-single digit earnings per share accretive in 2026, even before accounting for synergies.
IVE anticipates unlocking around $1 million in annual cost synergies by insourcing print, distribution, and activation services currently outsourced by Daily Press. Beyond cost savings, the acquisition opens avenues for cross-selling opportunities across IVE’s broader capabilities, including production, logistics, customer experience, data, merchandise, and activation services.
Technology and Integration
Integral to the deal is Daily Press’s proprietary SaaS Martech platform, Indy, designed to help brands create, localize, deploy, and measure content across print, digital, and social channels. This technology complements IVE’s vision of delivering integrated marketing solutions that connect strategy, creativity, and execution across physical and digital touchpoints.
Daily Press will be integrated into IVE’s Creative, Content & Integrated Solutions division and is slated to relocate to IVE’s Sydney headquarters in 2026. Wayne Knight, Daily Press’s founder and CEO, will remain with the business, ensuring continuity and leadership during the integration phase.
Market Positioning and Future Outlook
IVE’s Managing Director, Matt Aitken, highlighted the acquisition as a significant milestone in advancing the group’s long-term strategy. By enhancing digital, social, and performance marketing capabilities, IVE positions itself as a differentiated, end-to-end marketing partner capable of meeting the evolving demands of modern brands.
As the marketing landscape increasingly values omni-channel creativity and technology-driven solutions, this acquisition could serve as a catalyst for IVE to capture a larger share of the growing content marketing industry in Australia.
Bottom Line?
IVE’s acquisition of Daily Press marks a pivotal step in its transformation into a fully integrated, creative-led marketing powerhouse.
Questions in the middle?
- How quickly will IVE realize the projected cost and revenue synergies post-integration?
- What impact will the acquisition have on IVE’s competitive positioning against traditional and digital-only agencies?
- How will the performance-based deferred consideration affect IVE’s financials if targets are not met?