The company was founded in 1986 by Nigel Newton, who had previously been employed by other publishing companies. It was floated as a public registered company in 1995, raising £5.5million, which was used to fund expansion of the company into paperback and children's book. A rights issue of shares in 1998 raised a further £6.1m which was used to expand the company, in particular to found an American branch of the company. In 2000 Bloomsbury acquired A&C Black Plc, and in 2002 acquired Whitaker's Almanack. This was followed by further acquisitions. In 2007, Bloomsbury published Bloomsbury 21, a reprint series of 21 of its most popular books to celebrate its 21st anniversary.