Amsterdam University Press Acquires Australian ATF Press Publishing Group

Amsterdam University Press (AUP in the Netherlands) has officially announced the acquisition of ATF Press Publishing Group, a prominent independent academic publisher based in Adelaide, Australia. The deal, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, marks a major strategic expansion for AUP in the fields of theology, religious studies, and social ethics.

The acquisition incorporates ATF Press’s entire backlist of more than 400 titles produced over its 34-year history. Moving forward, ATF Press’s established collections will continue to exist under the ATF imprint within AUP. The complete integration process is scheduled to be finalized by the end of 2026.

Jan-Peter Wissink, Director of Amsterdam University Press, hailed the acquisition as a major milestone for the organization. "ATF Press has an impressive history of internationalisation, including translations, and an extensive backlist covering theology, history, and social ethics," Wissink said. "Its inclusion within Amsterdam University Press represents an exciting new chapter for us and will significantly expand our list of theological and religious publications."

Founded in Adelaide in 1993, ATF Press has built a reputation for publishing influential books and peer-refereed journals centered on ethical and social issues, ranging from religion and art to the environment and space exploration.

Professor Paul Babie, Chair of ATF Press (Australia) Ltd., noted that the acquisition ensures the long-term preservation of the independent publisher's legacy. "We are proud of our history as an independent publisher, and our contribution to theology as a science," Babie stated. "With this acquisition, our backlist will be in capable hands to ensure continuity. Other publishing houses in this region have come and gone, but we have survived – a mark of international recognition of what we have achieved."

As part of the structural transition, ATF’s Hilary Regan will remain involved as a commissioning editor, working alongside the incoming ATF Managing Director, Jörg Persch.

AUP plans to leverage its global distribution network to make ATF’s backlist, including key English translations of theological works, more widely available in both digital and print formats. A number of these titles will become accessible to international audiences for the first time.

Once the transition wraps up at the end of the year, all ATF Press titles and new commissions will be available directly through the Amsterdam University Press website. Current distribution agreements will remain active until December 1, 2026, at which point global distribution will officially transfer to Taylor & Francis.

To commemorate the new partnership, a reception celebrating ATF's publishing history will be held in Adelaide on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, coinciding with the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) International Meeting.