The Birmingham-based Midlands Publishing Group is looking to expand its interests with the acquisition of a printing company.
Chief executive Nicholas Humes said it had made an offer for an unnamed firm but its valuation "wasnt economical".
He said an acquisition would "not only put us more in control of our own destiny, but we would also have an additional client base from contract printing".
The publisher plans to launch its internet magazine, Web-Tech, at the end of May. William Gibbons in Wolverhampton has won the contract to print the 20,000 copies of the 200pp monthly magazine.
"However, we hope to be in a position in the near future to be printing it ourselves," added Humes.
He said Midlands Publishing Group was also in the running to buy Mill House Medias nine business titles.