Acquisition

RNS Number:7447H
Future Network PLC
25 January 2005



25 January 2004

                             The Future Network plc

                 Acquisition of A&S Publishing Company Limited

The Future Network plc ('Future'), the international special-interest consumer
magazine group, today announces that it has acquired the entire issued capital
of A&S Publishing Company Limited ('A&S'), for a net cash consideration of
#5.95m, subject to a post completion adjustment (see note 1).

A&S commenced trading in 1985 and today it publishes 11 motoring magazines. Its
top three selling titles are: Classic Ford, Fast Ford and Trucking. In addition
to magazines, A&S also owns and operates eight national motoring events, the
largest of which is TRAX.

Turnover for A&S for the year ended 31 December 2003 was #5.9m (2002: #4.9m) and
pre-tax profits were #0.1m (2002: #0.4m). Future has set a target level of a
minimum of #0.8m of full-year operating profits to be achieved, following
integration of the acquired business. Accordingly, for the financial year to 30
September 2006, Future anticipates that the acquisition will enhance adjusted
earnings per share and Future expects to achieve a post-tax return on this
investment in excess of its weighted average cost of capital.

Commenting on the acquisition Greg Ingham, Chief Executive of The Future Network
plc, said:

"These titles will fit very neatly into our portfolio and will build on the
success of our own motoring title, Redline. They will also give us immediate
critical mass in the motoring enthusiast segment and will themselves benefit at
newsstand from being part of a larger publishing business. We are delighted to
welcome the publishing and editorial teams to Future and to add these titles and
events to the Future portfolio."

Future will now start a consultation process with existing A&S employees over
the transfer to Future. No major changes are planned for the editorial content
of the magazines.

Enquiries:


The Future Network plc
Greg Ingham, Chief Executive          Tel: [phone]
John Bowman, Finance Director         Tel: [phone]

Hogarth Partnership
James Longfield/Georgina Briscoe      Tel: [phone]


Notes to Editors

Note 1
The post completion adjustment is based on the Net Asset Value of the business
following the preparation of completion accounts as at 24 January 2005.

About A&S Publishing

A&S was founded in the UK by Peter Minnis, with the backing of Forlags AB
Albinsson & Sjoberg, Sweden's largest publisher of motoring magazines. It
commenced trading in London in 1985, publishing Trucking International (now
called Trucking) before moving to Gloucester in 1988. In 1989 it acquired Fast
Ford magazine and the Ford Fair event.

A&S' other motoring magazines are: Classic Ford, Retro Cars, Total Vauxhall,
Mini Magazine, GoMini, Total BMW, Total Car Audio.

A&S' road transport magazines include Trucking and Truckstop News (free
distribution - monthly).


It also owns and operates eight motoring events, the largest of which is TRAX.
Held annually at Silverstone in September, TRAX attracts over 16,000 young car
enthusiasts with the opportunity to view some of the best modified cars in the
UK and also the chance for many to drive their own cars on the famous circuit. A
&S' other events are: Ford Fair, Mini in the Park, Performance Vauxhall Show,
Classic Ford Show, Total BMW Show, Japfest and Retro Cars Show.


About Future

The Future Network plc was founded in the UK in 1985. Today, it publishes over
100 regular special-interest consumer magazines worldwide and is the fifth
largest magazine publisher in the UK.
Future employs around 1,100 people in offices in the UK, US, France and Italy.
Over 100 international editions of Future's magazines are also published under
licence in 30 other countries across the world. The company is listed on the
London Stock Exchange (symbol: FNET).





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