Acquisition

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
25 May 2006


25 May 2006


                        Bloomsbury Acquires Theatre List

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, ('Bloomsbury'), the children's, adult and reference
book publisher, announced today that its subsidiary A & C Black has acquired
Methuen Drama Ltd for a total cash consideration of £2.35m.


Methuen Drama Ltd has over 700 titles in print and the list includes plays by
top contemporary authors such as Caryl Churchill, Michael Frayn and David Mamet
as well as established classics by Bertolt Brecht, Oscar Wilde and Dario Fo.
The list also includes practical books for students that cover voice training,
directing and stage management, a number of more general titles, theatre
biographies, diaries and letters.


The acquisition is complementary to a number of A&C Black's publishing
activities including its established practical theatre list and the New Mermaids
series of plays. A&C Black has also recently reached agreement with the Shaw
Foundation to publish a number of Bernard Shaw's most famous plays and these
will be rolled in to the Methuen Drama list. The Company plans to develop the
Methuen Drama list across all of the English speaking markets, exploiting it
more fully in the trade and educational spheres.


Nigel Newton, Chairman of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, said:


'Methuen Drama is a highly prestigious name and has a list of well known authors
and playwrights.  We have the sales and marketing expertise to exploit its list
fully in the trade and educational markets and will be looking to add both
practical theatre titles and new works which will become the classic plays of
the future.'


The Methuen general list will stay with the current management and will be sold
under the name Methuen Publishing Ltd.


Peter Tummons, Managing Director of Methuen said:


'I am delighted that the drama list and the Methuen Drama name will go to such
an old established house as A&C Black, backed by the entrepreneurial spirit of
Bloomsbury. I'm sure the list will prosper in such good hands'.


                                      ENDS


For further information, please contact:


Tim Spratt/Charles Palmer
Financial Dynamics                                                  020 7831 3113

Sandy Karon, PA to the Chief Executive
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc                                           020 7494 6015



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