CDL: Gordon & Breach acquisition

From: John P. Abbott <AbbottJP_at_conrad.appstate.edu>
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 16:29:30 -0500
To: Colldv-l <COLLDV-L_at_usc.edu>
From: http://www.tandf.co.uk/news.html Press Release


Taylor & Francis Group plc acquires Gordon and Breach Publishing Group


Taylor & Francis Group plc are pleased to announce the acquisition of all of
the publishing activities of the Gordon and Breach Publishing Group (including
Harwood Academic but excluding art book and magazine publishing).

Gordon and Breach publish over 250 journals and approximately 100 books
each year.

Taylor & Francis, academic journal and book publishers for more than 200
years, will apply their experience to the Gordon and Breach journal publishing
programme to ensure that the excellent academic content is made available to
the academic community in a more predictable and manageable manner.

Historically, Gordon and Breach have employed a system which has enabled
them to publish academic research papers as they are received, but the
variable flow of papers in any given year has lead to a lack of uncertainty of
cost for the subscriber. In addition, volume start dates have not necessarily
been linked to calendar years.

It is Taylor & Francis' intention to review the entire publishing programme in
order to: 

	Establish the number of pages, issues and volumes in a given year 
	Publish volumes on a calendar year basis 
	Establish a fixed annual subscription price so that there is no 
		need for supplementary billing 
	Consider the current and future pricing strategy 
	Establish online availability of all possible titles 

These proposed changes are designed to alleviate any of the problems that
the library community, in particular, may have experienced, and to enhance
the overall quality of service to subscribers. It is hoped to implement these
strategies as early as possible beginning in 2002.

Commenting on the acquisition, Anthony Selvey, Chief Executive of the
Taylor & Francis Group, said:

      "Since its flotation in May 1998, Taylor & Francis has acquired
       five publishing groups adding over 650 journals and enlarging our
       book lists by more than 10,000 titles. All of these acquisitions
       have been earnings enhancing in the first full year,
       demonstrating our ability to identify, acquire and integrate
       complementary businesses.

       "The acquisition of such a complementary portfolio of journals
        and books further strengthens our position in many of our core
        subject areas and extends the base from which we can continue
        to build the Group organically. The purchase of G&B is
        consistent with our strategy of expanding our scientific,
        academic and professional book and journal publishing through
        acquisition as well as organic growth."

For further information contact:
			Keith Courtney, 
                        Sales Director, Taylor & Francis Ltd
                        Telephone +44 (0) 20 7842 2073
                        Facsimile +44 (0) 20 7842 2261
                        e-mail keith.courtney_at_tandf.co.uk

Date 14th February 2001
Received on Wed Feb 14 2001 - 13:30:47 EST