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 Bloomsbury will work with CAA to identify unpublished books with the potential to be made into successful films and to secure film deals for them.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