Zed list moves to Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury has bought London-based academic and non-fiction publisher Zed for £1.75m.

Zed, which last year launched Zed Scholar, will operate within Bloomsbury's Academic & Professional division as "a good strategic fit with Bloomsbury's existing publishing lists". In particular it will also help strengthen Bloomsbury's offering in African Studies and Development Studies, an area Jonathan Glasspool, m.d. Bloomsbury's Academic & Professional Division, said it wishes to grow.

£0.875m of the £1.75m sum agreed for Zed Books was paid in cash on completion, with the remainder due to be paid within 12 months. According to the statement issued on Companies House, it is expected to contribute approximately £0.8m of revenue to Bloomsbury in its first year. It is expected to break even in its first year (before reorganisation and acquisition costs), after which point it will be earnings enhancing, with improved profit following the integration of the business into Bloomsbury.

The buy follows the acquisition of another independent, non-fiction publisher I B Tauris, a specialist in Middle Eastern and political publishing, for £5.8m, in May 2018. Bloomsbury said the combined lists of Zed and I B Tauris made it "now a leader in academic Area Studies publishing", whilst its latest acquisition also enhances Bloomsbury's Politics and International Relations list.

Glasspool said: "We are delighted to become the new guardian of the prestigious and progressive Zed list. The Zed programme aligns very well with our existing publishing within I B Tauris, and complements Bloomsbury Academic's publishing across a wide range of humanities and social science subjects. Over 40 years, Zed has built up a unique presence in African and Development Studies, an area we wish to grow. We greatly look forward to working with Zed's wonderful range of authors and partners."

Zed, known for its international approach, including publishing the work of marginalised individuals and groups, has been independent since it was first founded in 1977. Previously a collective, Zed had five members of staff who were also co-owners; one member of staff is moving over to Bloomsbury while the remaining four are leaving following a 2–3 month transitional period.

Kika Sroka-Miller, co-owner and director of Zed Books said: "Bloomsbury's recognition of the value of Zed's Global South focus comes at a pivotal historical moment. Moving the Zed list to Bloomsbury not only secures its long-term future and development, but greatly increases the global reach of the Africa and Development lists in particular, which has always been Zed's primary goal. Furthermore, Zed's ground-breaking Middle East, Gender and Sexualities, Race and Indigenous Politics lists fit well within Bloomsbury's broader publishing programme and crucially, the move ensures Zed's books remain independently published."