Agreement Signed with Creative Artists Agency

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
16 February 2000


Bloomsbury   Publishing,  in  an   extension   of   their
activities   as  exploiters  of  long  term  intellectual
property  rights, have today announced the signing  of  a
new  deal  with Hollywood's dominant literary and  talent
agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

Bloomsbury  will  work  with CAA to identify  unpublished
books with the potential to be made into successful films
and to secure film deals for them.

A  number  of leading Bloomsbury authors have  had  films
made   of   their   books,  but  Bloomsbury   has   never
participated financially in any of these deals before. It
intends to change this with the announcement of this  new
relationship by selling books direct to Hollywood studios
in  a  deal  structure  which will include  the  author's
literary agent.

CAA  is  the  market leader in every business segment  in
which  it  participates. It has  a  unique  portfolio  of
services  and  attracts  and retains  top  clients  among
actors  including  Pierce Brosnan,  Matt  Damon,  Gwyneth
Paltrow,  Nicole  Kidman and Tom Cruise.  Directors  whom
they  represent  include Mike Nichols, Steven  Spielberg,
Robert   Zemeckis   and   Anthony  Minghella.   Novelists
represented  by CAA include Nicholas Evans, John  Irving,
Robert Parker and Tom Wolfe.

Previous  Bloomsbury  books which  have  been  successful
movies  include The English Patient by Michael  Ondaatje,
winner  of  nine  Oscars, The Piano by Jane  Campion  and
Shine  by  Jan Sardi. Films of Snow Falling on Cedars  by
David  Guterson and Holy Smoke by Jane Campion are to  be
released  later  this year in the UK.  Warner  Bros  have
recently signed a film deal with JK Rowling for the Harry
Potter  series  published  by  Bloomsbury,  which  Steven
Spielberg is to produce.

Nigel  Newton,  Chief Executive of Bloomsbury  Publishing
said:

       'I  am  delighted  to be  working  with  Bob
       Bookman  and his very able team  at  CAA  in
       Beverly  Hills.  I  feel sure  that  we  are
       going  to  strike  it rich together  in  the
       near future.'
       
Robert Bookman, head of CAA's literary department, said

       'CAA  look  forward  to representing  select
       titles  for  Bloomsbury in the future.  They
       seem  to  have a winning touch  at  spotting
       new  talent before others and really  making
       it  happen  on  the  book  publishing  scene
       worldwide.  This  alliance  helps  make  big
       movies.'


For further details, contact:
Simon  Forrest, Impact Corporate Communications: 0171  355 
5150 or 0585 317 746
Wendy Smith, Creative Artists Agency: 001 310 288 4545