"Ma'ariv" printing house has renewed sale talks with daily freesheet "Israel Today." Sources inform "Globes" that the printing house owner Amos Maimon, which currently stands abandoned, is conducting negotiations with representatives of "Israel Today" owner Sheldon Adelson.
Previous talks broke down because the differences between the two sides were too wide. But with the decision by the "Ma'ariv" newspaper to stop printing at the facility, the talks have been renewed.
Maiman bought the printing house in Bat Yam for NIS 65 million from Ma'ariv trustees Yaron Arbel and Shlomo Nass after the company went into liquidation. As part of the deal which saw Shlomo Ben-Tzvi buy the newspaper, the new publisher committed to continue printing the newspaper at the printing house.
Maiman bought the printing house for real estate considerations only. When Ben-Tzvi found himself in financial difficulties, he asked to be absolved of his commitment and reached an arrangement with the trustees and printing house workers to stop printing there.
Today "Ma'ariv" is printed elsewhere and the employees have taken early retirement. Meanwhile the printing house stands empty although "Globes" has been informed that equipment and machinery there is being prepared for use.
"Israel Today" one of Israel's two most popular daily newspapers does not have its own printing house and is currently printed at the "Ha'aretz" printing house enriching the rival Schoken Group by tens of millions of shekels each year.
Maimon was unavailable for comment and "Israel Today" declined to comment.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 12, 2013
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