Informa Group Plc has acquired a portfolio of business information products from EMAP plc. The consideration is £28 million payable in cash.

In the year to 31 March 1999, the 20 products made operating profits before an allocation of EMAP overheads of £2.8 million on revenues of £12.5 million.

The products are established brands in the fields of finance and insurance, maritime trade and transport and commercial fishing. They include the weekly publications International Freighting Weekly and Fishing News; the monthly business magazines Insurance Age and Containerisation International and a number of related exhibitions and events.

In addition, the portfolio contains the electronic information service Liner Shipping Network. This internet-delivered subscription product provides time critical news, data and analysis to the international shipping and freight industries.

Peter Rigby, Chairman of Informa Group Plc, commented: "We are delighted to have acquired these leading niche titles which will add considerably to Informa's existing strengths in some of our major markets. They will complement Informa's existing brands and allow us to reinforce the service we provide to our customer base.

"The Liner Shipping Network will accelerate further our progress in providing e-commerce solutions to the maritime, trade and transport markets. The commercial fishing publications and related exhibitions, under the respected Heighway brand, will extend Informa's product offerings to the world commodity markets.

"We are pleased to be bringing the experience and expertise of 100 staff associated with these products to Informa and we look forward to working with them to develop this portfolio further and to exploiting the significant synergies with Informa's own titles and events.

"This earnings enhancing acquisition comes towards the end of what has been a very successful first 12 months for Informa and will provide us with a still stronger platform for growth in 2000 and beyond."

Relevant Market Sectors:
Maritime Trade and Transport
Finance and Insurance