A new name - Are Media - has marked the beginning of a "new chapter" for the former Bauer Media business.

Chief executive Brendon Hill says the new ownership and new identity comes with a "refreshed and reinvigorated focus", embracing existing strengths while allowing it to innovate and move into new areas.

He promised captivating, premium magazine content and experiences "across print, digital, books, rewards, events and TV".

The former Bauer Media business - which acquired rival Pacific Magazines from Seven West earlier this year - now belongs to Mercury Capital, which owns heatset printer Webstar New Zealand, printer of its NZ titles. In Australia, the former PacMags mastheads were printed by Ive Group, while Ovato printed for Bauer.

Announcing the rebrand, which was "the culmination of an employee-led initiative" - no jokes about pirates, please - Hill said: "Today commences a new chapter for our business."