Thanks to everyone who's been able to share further information - hopefully we'll get sufficient to inform our decisions.
Tom.
-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by UKSG - Connecting the Information Community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cond, Anthony
Sent: 24 September 2014 16:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [lis-e-resources] Publisher messages re Swets
Latest update: http://www.stm-publishing.com/swets-information-services-b-v-declared-bankrupt/
Following the suspension of payment for Swets & Zeitlinger Group BV, granted by the court in Amsterdam on 19 September, the Management team, together with Mr J.L.M. Groenewegen (CMS), the appointed administrator, have been working tirelessly to investigate alternatives for the business. Unfortunately, concrete alternatives to sell the business as a whole have not materialised and due to these developments Swets Information Services B.V. filed for bankruptcy on 23 September 2014. The court of Amsterdam honoured this request and as per 23 September 2014 Swets Information Services B.V. is declared bankrupt.
Mr. J.L.M. Groenewegen has now been appointed as trustee and the court of Amsterdam has also granted a cooling off period (afkoelingsperiode) for a duration of two months. Swets Information Services B.V. has approximately 110 employees in the Netherlands. As a consequence of the bankruptcy the employment contracts with these employees will be terminated.
The bankruptcy of the Swets Information Services B.V. does (for now) not affect its (foreign) subsidiaries as the bankruptcy is only related to Swets Information Services B.V. If and in which way the bankruptcy of Swets Information Services B.V. will affect its branches is currently under investigation by the trustee at this moment.
In the coming days the trustee and the Management team will continue discussions with organisations and individuals who may be interested in purchasing parts of the business and will be making every effort to try to preserve employment, where possible. Alternative solutions for the subsidiaries, or branches, of Swets Information Services B.V. which could see them continue activities on a stand alone basis will also be investigated.
During these negotiations we kindly ask any suppliers, publishers and clients with urgent queries to contact CMS directly by e-mail, from Friday afternoon onwards, at the following address: [log in to unmask]
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………
Anthony Cond | Director
Liverpool University Press | 4 Cambridge Street, Liverpool L69 7ZU, UK
W: www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk
twitter | catalogue | ebooks
‘Liverpool University Press has added to our intellectual and cultural life in a way that proves the value of a University Press for society at large.’ Professor Sir Drummond Bone, Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council ‘There’s a lot of dynamism and innovation around Liverpool University Press’ IPG Award Judges Shortlisted IPG Academic and Professional Publisher of the Year 2012, 2013, 2014 Shortlisted Independent Academic, Educational & Professional Publisher of the Year 2014, The Bookseller Industry Awards
This message is confidential to the intended recipient. If you have received it by mistake, please notify the sender. Any attachment has been virus-checked, but no responsibility is accepted for any virus unintentionally transmitted. The contents of this email are not legally binding. Liverpool University Press 2004 Limited, Company Number 05113671, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Liverpool.
-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by UKSG - Connecting the Information Community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicola Tricker
Sent: 24 September 2014 16:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [lis-e-resources] Publisher messages re Swets
That's all we've had as well - I did contact Swets for further information but they told me that that was all the information they had at present. It’s tricky, but I imagine if it is still being deliberated in the courts there is a confidentiality issue as well, so Swets staff (even if they did know something) may be prevented from saying anything for that reason.
Nicola.
Nicola Tricker,
Supplier Manager,
Room 303,
Babbage Building,
Plymouth University,
Drake Circus,
Plymouth,
Devon,
PL4 8AA.
United Kingdom.
Email: [log in to unmask]
Tel: +44(0)1752 587141.
-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by UKSG - Connecting the Information Community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tom Francis [tbf]
Sent: 24 September 2014 16:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [lis-e-resources] Publisher messages re Swets
Hi Tom,
Well said - I quite agree, in the absence of any news from Swets head office, it's hard to know what is real what is just publishers stirring it up. Of the dozens of publishers who have emailed me over the last two days, all saying roughly the same thing, IM Publications included a link to the actual message Swets sent out to publishers on 22/09:
"Subject: Swets Communication
Dear publishers,
To protect the business interests of Swets & Zeitlinger Group BV, we have requested the court in Amsterdam to declare a suspension of payments of Swets & Zeitlinger Group BV and appoint an administrator.
This request was honoured by the court and, last Friday, Mr. J.L.M.
Groenewegen (CMS) was appointed as administrator.
Management will work closely with the administrator, advisors and relevant business stakeholders in the coming days to investigate alternatives for the business, including a potential sale of part or all of the business to other organisations. We expect to be able to inform you on further developments in the course of this week.
For any queries, please contact Antoinette Baarda by email ([log in to unmask]).
Yours sincerely,
Management Committee of Swets (Han Stoop, Teri Hawksworth, Nadine Beister, Ramon Schrama, Ted van Dongen)"
Personally, I'm happy to sit tight and wait for an announcement from Swets in the coming days - and that's what I've been telling the publishers who have been phoning and emailing me.
I'd also like to second Claire's sympathy for the Swets staff; the team in Abingdon have been a source of invaluable support since I took up this post three years ago, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything will work out for them.
Cheers,
Tom F
-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by UKSG - Connecting the Information Community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bishop, Tom
Sent: 24 September 2014 16:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [lis-e-resources] Publisher messages re Swets
Hi all,
For the sake of understanding more about the situation and the implications, would a publisher's representative on this list be able/willing to relay to us the wording of any correspondence they have received from Swets stating their situation? I'm aware for instance that ALPSP publishers received a message on 22nd September - if someone is willing to share that, or at least the Swets statement, or anything received subsequently, it would be appreciated. Alternatively, have any libraries received direct formal communication from Swets?
The reason I'm asking is that as things stand, the information we have as customers from Swets themselves seems to be minimal. I don't think this should in any way be taken to reflect badly on Swets in Abingdon, as clearly all action relating to sales negotiations and legal proceedings and communications relating to these are being handled centrally from Leiden. My concern is that at present we're primarily receiving and reliant on reported information. We're in a case where we're concerned with a legal situation that necessarily involves Dutch legal terminology and process, which (certainly on my part, not being someone who could choose 'Dutch insolvency law' as my specialist subject on 'Mastermind') potentially increases the opportunities for a lack of full understanding; for instance the article in the Bookseller refers to Swets appointing a 'liquidator' - is that a genuinely accurate translation?
I'm fully aware that this probably sounds naïve, and that picking up on the use/misuse of a single word probably sounds like the worst possible example of pedantry while Rome burns, but it's not intended to be - my point is that to be able to make fully informed, and as Claire says potentially enormous decisions, possibly very quickly, we need to be fully and accurately informed from all sides, and at present I'm not sure we are.
Thank you,
Tom.
-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by UKSG - Connecting the Information Community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Judith Stevens
Sent: 24 September 2014 14:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [lis-e-resources] Publisher messages re Swets
Well said Claire. I just had a conversation with Karena from Swets and she was almost in tears, very distraught, I really felt for her - and the others too.
Yes it will be an enormous work load for lots of us. Fortunately I have a great time behind me but am feeling a bit overwhelmed at present, normal renewal time plus this plus an office move plus a tender for a new LMS.
However I will still have job at the end of it.
Thanks for raising this subject, maybe it is a chance for publishers to show they are not all avaricious ******s insert your own expletive.
All best wishes
Judith
On 24 September 2014 14:34, Claire.Grace <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> We have seen a growing number of messages from publishers to this list
> over the last few days, drawing our attention to the announcement from
> Swets. Firstly I would like to say publically how sad I was to see
> this announcement and how much I feel for the staff at Swets.
>
> Secondly, it would be appreciated if publishers would reassure us that
> they understand the enormity of any work we might need to undertake to
> change our current arrangements for subscriptions by providing details
> of how they will grace access to their content as we work through this
> extremely difficult situation.
>
> I have almost invariably seen information about payments but what
> about the access?
>
> Best regards
> Claire Grace
>
> Head of Content and Licensing
> The Open University Library
> Walton Hall
> Milton Keynes
> MK7 6AA
> Tel: +44(0)1908 653291
> Fax: +44(0)1908 652211
>
>
> -- The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391),
> an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in
> Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated
> by the Financial Conduct Authority.
>
> lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org UKSG groups also
> available on Facebook and LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter:
> https://twitter.com/UKSG
>
--
Judith Stevens
Library Support Services Manager
The Library
Keele University
Keele
Staffs. ST5 5BG
01782 733637
htttp://www.keele.ac.uk/library
lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org UKSG groups also available on Facebook and LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKSG
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org UKSG groups also available on Facebook and LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKSG
lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org UKSG groups also available on Facebook and LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKSG ________________________________ [http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/images/email_footer.gif]<http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/worldclass>
This email and any files with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the recipient to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient then copying, distribution or other use of the information contained is strictly prohibited and you should not rely on it. If you have received this email in error please let the sender know immediately and delete it from your system(s). Internet emails are not necessarily secure. While we take every care, Plymouth University accepts no responsibility for viruses and it is your responsibility to scan emails and their attachments. Plymouth University does not accept responsibility for any changes made after it was sent. Nothing in this email or its attachments constitutes an order for goods or services unless accompanied by an official order form.
lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org UKSG groups also available on Facebook and LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKSG
lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org UKSG groups also available on Facebook and LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKSG
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org
UKSG groups also available on Facebook and LinkedIn
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKSG
|