Scholium Group plc

(“Scholium”, the “Scholium Group” or the “Company”)

Directors’ Dealings

Scholium Group, a dealer in rare and antiquarian books and other works on paper, has received notice that Jasper Allen (Chairman of the Company) and Charles Sebag-Montefiore (Non-executive director of the Company) subscribed at £1.00 per share for 100,000 and 10,000 new ordinary shares, respectively, in the Company’s initial public offering, which completed this morning. Accordingly, Messrs Allen and Sebag-Montefiore are now interested in 100,000 and 10,000 ordinary shares of the Company, representing 0.76% and 0.08% of the issued share capital, respectively.

Enquiries

Scholium Group plc	c/o Redleaf Polhill
Philip Blackwell (Chief Executive Officer)	020  7382 4730
Simon Southwood (Finance Director)
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD)	020 7220 1666
Chris Fielding
Nick Field
Whitman Howard Limited (Broker)	020 7087 4000
Ranald McGregor-Smith Niall Devins
Redleaf Polhill	020 7382 4730
Charlie Geller

 

Notes to Editors:

 

Background and history

Bookbank Limited, the principal subsidiary of the Scholium Group, was established by Philip Blackwell in March 2009 in order to trade in books in affiliation with other dealers.

 

Mr Blackwell had previously been the chief executive of Blackwell Limited, a distributor and retailer of new and antiquarian books. He was also a director of Blackwell Publishing (Holdings) Limited, an academic publishing business, until the sale of the latter for approximately £572 million in February 2007.

 

In May 2011, Bookbank Limited also extended its activities into book retailing, through a staged acquisition of the business which now trades as South Kensington Books. More recently, in October 2011, it further extended its activities into bespoke library creation, through the acquisition of Ultimate Library Limited, whose business was combined with that of South Kensington Books.

 

Shapero Rare Books

Shapero Rare Books, which was founded by its chief executive Bernard Shapero in 1979, is a dealer in rare and antiquarian books and works on paper, which includes maps of historic importance, vintage photographs and decorative and artistic prints. Mr Shapero is a well-known and established international dealer in rare books and maps. He developed his expertise from an initial focus on travel and illustrated books into a broad spectrum of rare and collectible works.

 

Mr Shapero was joined at Shapero Rare Books in 2007 by Pierre-Yves Guillemet, an experienced Eastern European and Russian books dealer, who had previously worked at the fine art and collectibles auctioneer, Christie’s.

 

Shapero Rare Books, which specialises in travel, natural history and Russian materials, has experience in acquiring large consignments of rare and historically important antiquarian books for sale to an international client base. The business has operated since 1996 from its current leasehold premises in St George Street, Mayfair, London.

 

Scholium Trading

The Directors have identified the opportunity for a well-funded dealer to develop interests, in affiliation with highly regarded specialist dealers, in trading at the high value end of the rare and collectible goods market.

 

Certain of the Directors and senior management of the Group have considerable experience in working alongside other dealers, in these markets.

 

South Kensington Books and Ultimate Library

South Kensington Books is the current trading name of a bookshop which has been operating from leasehold premises in Thurloe Street, South Kensington, London for several decades.

 

South Kensington Books, which specialises in books valued at up to £50 in visual arts, architecture and photography, caters to local professionals; visitors to the museums; Christie’s (South Kensington); interior designers; and affluent local residents. The bookshop has benefited from the recent pedestrianisation of the area.

 

Ultimate Library, which operates from the same premises, creates bespoke libraries on behalf of luxury hotels and resorts, and high-end personal residences around the world. Its customers include Aman Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Six Senses Resorts and Spas, and the Savoy Hotel.