Informa Group Plc, the parent company of Lloyd’s List Australian Weekly, has announced the acquisition of Daily Commercial News, Australia’s oldest maritime newspaper, from APN News & Media Limited for A$10m. Informa Group is an international business information and communications group, created by the merger of IBC Group plc and LLP Group plc late last year.

Daily Commercial News (DCN) is the market leader for the country’s maritime, export and import sectors, with a subscriber base of some 4,000. In 1998, DCN made pre-tax profit of A$900k on turnover of A$4.5m. The sale is conditional on Australian Foreign Investment Board approval.

David Gilbertson, Informa Chief Executive, commented: "Daily Commercial News is a powerful and long established title in the Australian market. In combination with our weekly publication, Lloyd's List Australian Weekly, the acquisition of DCN will enable Informa to offer an unrivalled information service to the Australian import and export community. In addition, there are substantial synergies, branding and cross-selling opportunities with our conference business in Australia.

"This is Informa’s second significant acquisition since the merger was completed in late December. We will continue to seek bolt-on acquisitions which strengthen further the range of products and services offered by the group."

DCN and Lloyd’s List Australian Weekly will continue to publish as per their normal schedules for the next month until the launch of a newly merged title early in April which will publish on a tri-weekly basis.

Peter Rigby, Executive Chairman of Informa Group, said: "The acquisition of the DCN supported by our newly established trade and business magazine division and our expanding conference business provides the Informa Group with an outstanding model for our international operation. DCN will complement the maritime and commerce publishing arm of LLP which has long been recognised as the world’s leader in its field."

For more information contact:

	David Gilbertson
	Chief Executive, Informa Group Plc
	Phone: +44 (0)171 637 4383
	e-Mail: jbuckley@llplimited.com
	Peter Rigby
	Executive Chairman, Informa Group Plc
	Phone: +44 (0)171 637 4383
	e-Mail: joanna.giles@ibc-group.com