London - Reuters, the global information and news group, has acquired the medical news service, Agence de Presse Medicale (APM International), a leading provider of health and medical news to the French healthcare community.

Reuters plans to integrate the APM news service with its established North America medical news service produced by a subsidiary, Reuters Health Information Inc. (RHI). The combined RHI and APM resources will offer healthcare and business clients in Europe and North America an expanded service with international breadth of coverage and technological enhancements.

The value of the net assets acquired and the costs of the acquisition are not considered material to Reuters.

APM, launched in 1989, is an independent news agency that specialises in health and medical reporting for the French healthcare audience. Clients include health authorities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and research institutes. The company is headquartered in Paris. APM reports on major international medical stories, breaking news from international scientific and medical journals, medical conferences, European parliament sessions and major political and regulatory events shaping the European healthcare industry.

Robert Rowley, Reuters finance director said: "We are delighted to welcome APM to the Reuters Group. APM provides high quality service to key clients in the French healthcare community. Its standards of journalistic excellence are in keeping with Reuters traditions, and its team of seasoned medical journalists will greatly enhance our capacity to cover medical news in Europe."

Olivia Zemor, president APM International said: "We are pleased to become part of Reuters where its experience and independence will enhance our business. There are many opportunities to be exploited in the field of health and medical news. We have no doubt that under Reuters leadership we will capitalise on these opportunities."

APM founders Olivia Zemor and Nicolas Shahshahani APM Editor-in-Chief will continue with their current responsibilities and remain full-time employees of APM, as will the rest of the APM staff.

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Contact:

Peter V. Thomas Tel: 0171 250 1122
Director, Media Relations, Reuters Group PLC

Holly Atkinson, MD Tel: 00 1 212 603 3503
President and CEO, Reuters Health Information, Inc.

Nicolas Shahshahani Tel: 00 33 1 48 06 54 92
Editor-in-Chief, APM International

Note to editors

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Reuters Health Information Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reuters Group PLC, produces health and medical on-line news services. RHI's newswires keep professionals and consumers in North America abreast of breaking news stories in healthcare. RHI meets the needs of both institutions and individuals by offering the opportunity to license its consumer and professional news and to subscribe to these services via its award winning website, www.reutershealth.com.

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