RNS Number:6333R
Taylor & Francis Group PLC
04 November 2003



4 November 2003



 Acquisition of Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers for Euro16.75m extends STM portfolio



Taylor & Francis Group plc ("Taylor & Francis", "Group"), the leading specialist
publisher of scientific, academic and professional books and journals, announced
today that it has  acquired the business and assets of Swets & Zeitlinger B.V.
and A.A. Balkema Uitgevers B.V. (together, "Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers" or "
SZP"), the Dutch based Scientific Technical and Medical ("STM") journal and book
publishing business being divested by information services provider Koninklijke
Swets & Zeitlinger Holding N.V.  The cash consideration of Euro16.75 million (#11.5
million) will be paid from the Group's existing cash resources.



Founded in 1916 with the publication of the journal title English Studies, SZP
publishes English language journals and books in the specialist areas of
engineering, ophthalmology and life sciences as well as in the social sciences.
SZP publishes 41 journal titles and 100 new book titles per year and has a
backlist of around 2,000 book titles.  Based in Lisse, Holland, it employs 37
staff.



In the year ended 31 December 2002, SZP's turnover was Euro6.4m million (#4.4
million) of which 62% was from journal sales and 38% from book sales.



The SZP titles are of a high quality and will enhance Taylor & Francis' existing
scientific and engineering portfolios as well as strengthen further the Group's
position in the STM books and journals market segments. The SZP publications
have good growth potential and will benefit from Taylor & Francis' international
customer base and its traditional and electronic publishing expertise.  As a
result the acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in the first full
year of ownership.*



The acquisition of the SZP titles is consistent with Taylor & Francis' strategy
of growing its portfolio of "must have" information through a combination of
well-planned organic development and selected earnings enhancing acquisitions
that strengthen the portfolio, widen the customer base and internationalise the
business.



Commenting on the acquisition David Smith, Chief Executive of Taylor & Francis
Group plc said,



"The addition of the well regarded SZP portfolio to our own will further
strengthen our position in STM publishing, and the complementary nature of the
publications will enhance our offering worldwide. The SZP titles will benefit
from our international customer base as well as our traditional and  electronic
publishing expertise."




                                      ENDS

For further information, please contact:


Taylor & Francis Group plc                             020 7583 9855
David Smith, Group Chief Executive
Anthony Foye, Group Finance Director


Financial Dynamics                                     020 7831 3113
Tim Spratt / Charles Palmer



* The statement that the acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in the
first full year of ownership does not constitute a profit forecast and should
not be interpreted to mean that the earnings per share in the financial year
commencing 1 January 2004 or in any subsequent period will necessarily match or
be greater than those for the relevant preceding financial period.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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