The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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Bonnier acquires Templar

12.09.08 Philip Jones

Bonnier Publishing, part of the Swedish Bonnier Group, has acquired the independent children's press Templar Publishing. Bonnier said that the deal would strengthen and broaden its business, which comprises publishing companies in the US, Australia, New Zealand, England and France. The amount paid was not divulged.

Templar's senior management, including m.d. Amanda Wood, and Ruth Huddleston, sales and marketing director, will continue to run the company founded 30 years ago. Wood said: "Templar has grown to a stage where we'd like to have the support and guidance of a company with the depth and breadth of Bonnier behind us to help take us to the next level." Templar has 38 employees, and is expected to have sales in 2008 of £17m. It is also due to begin publishing in the US in 2009, under the Templar name, as an imprint of Candlewick Press.

Bonnier said it had been looking to make an acquisition for the past two years. Templar is its second major UK acquisition, since it was established in 2004 under m.d. Des Higgins. Maria Curman, president of Bonnier Books, said: "Bonnier has a 200-year history in book publishing and I'm confident we'll be able to build on Templar's success to date, leverage their unique expertise in children's publishing and support the company's future growth."

International Philip Jones children's Sweden Bonnier Publishing Templar Publishing