HDS gains foothold in Asian travel-retail market

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Hachette Distribution Services (HDS), the giant Paris-based news and CTN retail group, announced yesterday it has acquired 40% of Newslink, an Australian travel-retail chain operating press and book outlets in transport centres. The deal was concluded on April 30.

Newslink is present in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne airports as well as the main Australian railway stations and Singapore Changi airport. In 2000 Newslink turnover was close to Eur40m ($36m). President and ceo of HDS Jean-Louis Nachury commented: "This acquisition forms part of the international development strategy of the Group. The excellent relations that Roger Wood, founder and chairman of Newslink, has established with landlords and publishers will allow us to speed up our expansion in the Asia Pacific region to the benefit of passengers."

Roger Wood said, "This partnership with HDS will allow Newslink to reinforce its position as leader in the Australian market for retailing leisure and cultural products in transport centres."

• HDS is a leading global airport retailer and travel retailer in the press distribution category and gifts and leisure product category with over 2,000 outlets in 15 countries. In 2000 HDS had turnover of Eur3.8bn ($3.4bn) including wholesale.