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FORM 10-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

[x] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended: April, 30, 1999

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED)

For the transition period from to
Commission file number 1-11507

JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK 13-5593032
- ------------------------------- -------------------------------
State or other jurisdiction of I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization Identification No.
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012
- ------------------------------- -------------------------------
Address of principal executive offices Zip Code

Registrant's telephone number (212) 850-6000
including area code
-------------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
registered
- ------------------------------- ------------------------------
Class A Common Stock, New York Stock Exchange
par value $1.00 per share

Class B Common Stock, New York Stock Exchange
par value $1.00 per share

Securities registered pursuant None
to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Class A and Class B
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share as of May 31, 1999, was 50,235,994 and
12,147,656 respectively, and the aggregate market value of such shares of Common
Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of such date was 887,946,646
based upon the closing market price of the Class A and Class B Common Stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The Registrant's Definitive proxy Statement to be filed with the
Commission on or about August 6, 1999 for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held on September 16, 1999, (the "1999 Proxy Statement") is, to the extent
noted below, incorporated by reference in Part III.



PART I

Item 1. Business

The Company is a New York corporation incorporated on January 15,
1904. (As used herein the term "Company" means John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its
subsidiaries and affiliated companies, unless the context indicates otherwise).

The Company is a global publisher of print and electronic products,
specializing in scientific, technical, and medical books and journals;
professional and consumer books and subscription services; and textbooks and
other educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students as well as
lifelong learners. The Company has publishing, marketing and distribution
centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Journal publications are primarily in the sciences, medicine and
engineering. Book publications are primarily in the areas of pure and applied
science, engineering, mathematics, architecture, the social sciences,
biomedicine, accounting, computer science, business, economics, finance and
culinary arts and hospitality. Professional and reference books, encyclopedias,
dictionaries, and periodicals are intended primarily for practicing and research
professionals and for libraries, while textbooks are produced primarily for use
in formal instruction in the college and university markets, as well as the
lifelong learning, corporate and adult education and distance learning markets.
The Company also publishes for the secondary school market in Australia. Some of
the above, as well as nonfiction consumer publications, are also marketed to the
general public. In addition, the Company markets and distributes books from
other publishers. The Company develops and markets electronic versions of
certain of its print products, as well as computer software and online
electronic data bases for educational use and professional research and
training.

Subsequent to the fiscal 1999 year-end, the Company acquired certain
publishing assets from Pearson including college textbooks and instructional
packages in biology/anatomy and physiology, engineering, mathematics,
economics/finance and teacher education, for approximately $58 million in cash.
In addition, the Company acquired the Jossey-Bass publishing company from
Pearson for approximately $82 million in cash. Jossey-Bass publishes books and
journals for professionals and executives primarily in the areas of business,
psychology and education/health management.

The Company is on the Internet with a World Wide Web site located at
http://www.wiley.com.




Publishing Operations

The Company publishes over 400 journals and other subscription-based
products, which accounted for approximately 37% of the Company's fiscal 1999
revenues. Most journals are owned by the Company, in which case they may or may
not be sponsored by a professional society. Some are owned by such societies and
published by the Company under an agreement. Societies which sponsor or own such
journals generally receive a royalty and/or other consideration which varies
with the nature of the relationship. The Company usually enters into agreements
with the outside independent editors of journals which state the duties of the
editors, and the fees and expenses for their services. Contributors of journal
articles transfer publication rights to the Company or professional society, as
applicable.

Journal subscriptions result primarily from direct mail and other
advertising and promotional campaigns, renewals which are solicited annually
either directly or by companies commonly referred to as independent subscription
agents, and memberships in the professional societies for those journals that
are sponsored by such societies. Printed journals are generally mailed to
subscribers directly from independent printers.

Materials for book publications are obtained from authors throughout
most of the world through the efforts of an editorial staff, outside editorial
advisors, and advisory boards. Most materials originate with their authors, but
many are prepared as a result of suggestions or solicitations by editors or
advisors. The Company usually enters into agreements with authors which state
the terms and conditions under which the respective authors' materials will be
published and under which other related rights may be exercised, the name in
which the copyright will be registered, the basis for any royalties, and other
matters. Most of the authors are compensated by royalties which vary with the
nature of the product and its anticipated sales potential. In general, royalties
for textbooks and consumer books are higher than royalties for research and
reference works. The Company makes advances against future royalties to authors
of certain of its publications. The Company continues to add new titles, revise
existing titles, and discontinue the sale of others in the normal course of its
business. The Company's general practice is to revise its basic textbooks every
three to five years, if warranted, and to revise other titles as appropriate.
Subscription-based products, other than journals, are updated more frequently on
a regular schedule. Approximately 31% of the Company's fiscal 1999 domestic book
publishing revenues were from titles published or revised in that fiscal year.

Professional and consumer book sales consist of sales to trade
bookstores and online booksellers serving the general public, to wholesalers who
supply such bookstores, to certain college bookstores for their non-textbook
requirements, to individual professional practitioners, and to research
institutions, jobbers, libraries (including public, professional, academic, and
other special libraries), industrial organizations, and governmental agencies.
The Company employs sales representatives who call upon independent bookstores,
along with national and regional chain bookstores, wholesalers and jobbers.
Trade sales to bookstores, wholesalers and jobbers are generally made on a fully
returnable basis. Sales of professional and consumer books also result from
direct mail campaigns, telemarketing, online access, and advertising and reviews
in periodicals.

Adopted textbooks (i.e., textbooks prescribed for course use) are sold
primarily to bookstores, including online bookstores, serving educational
institutions in the United States (i.e., college bookstores). The Company
employs sales representatives who call on faculty members responsible for
selecting books to be used in courses, and on the bookstores which serve such
institutions and their students. Textbook sales are generally made on a fully
returnable basis. The textbook business is seasonal with the majority of
textbook sales occurring during June through August and November through
January. There is an active used textbook market which negatively affects the
sales of new textbooks.

The Company performs marketing and distribution services for other
publishers under agency arrangements. It also engages in co-publishing of titles
with foreign publishers and in publication of adaptations of works from other
publishers for particular markets. The Company also receives licensing revenues
from photocopies and electronic uses and reproductions of journal articles and
other materials.

Like most other publishers, the Company generally contracts with
independent printers and binderies for their services. The Company purchases its
paper from independent suppliers and printers. Paper prices continued to decline
during fiscal 1999. The Company believes that adequate printing and binding
facilities, and sources of paper and other required materials are available to
it, and that it is not dependent upon any single supplier. Book products are
distributed from Company operated warehouses.

The Company produces electronic versions of some of its products
including software, video, CD-ROM, and through online services, including
distribution of the Company's journals as full-text electronic files over the
Internet, through Wiley InterScience. The Company believes that the demand for
new electronic technology products will increase. Accordingly, to properly
service its customers and to remain competitive, the Company anticipates it will
be necessary to increase its expenditures related to such new technologies over
the next several years.

The Company's publishing business is not dependent upon a single
customer, the loss of whom could have a material adverse effect. The journal
subscription business is primarily sourced through independent subscription
agents who facilitate the journal ordering process by consolidating the
subscription orders/billings of each subscriber with various publishers. Monies
are collected in advance from subscribers by the subscription agents and are
remitted to the journal publishers, including the Company, generally prior to
the commencement of the subscriptions. Although at fiscal year-end, the Company
had minimal credit risk exposure to these agents, future calendar year
subscription receipts from these agents are highly dependent on their financial
position and liquidity. Subscription agents account for approximately 28% of
total consolidated revenues and no one agent accounts for more than 6% of total
consolidated revenues. The book publishing business has witnessed a significant
concentration in national and regional bookstore chains in recent years,
however, no one customer accounts for more than 5% of total consolidated
revenues.

International Operations

The Company's publications are sold throughout most of the world
through subsidiaries located in Europe, Canada, Australia, and Asia, or through
agents, or directly from the United States. These subsidiaries market their own
indigenous publications, as well as publications produced by the domestic
operations and other subsidiaries and affiliates. The Export Sales Department in
the United States markets the Company's publications through agents as well as
foreign sales representatives in countries not served by a foreign subsidiary.
John Wiley & Sons International Rights, Inc. sells foreign reprint and
translations rights. The Company publishes, or licenses others to publish, its
products which are distributed throughout the world in 35 foreign languages.
Approximately 45% of the Company's fiscal 1999 revenues were derived from
non-U.S. markets.

Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, and Environment

Substantially all of the Company's publications are protected by
copyright, either in its own name, in the name of the author of the work, or in
the name of the sponsoring professional society. Such copyrights protect the
Company's exclusive right to publish the work in the United States and in many
countries abroad for specified periods: in most cases the author's life plus 70
years, but in any event a minimum of 28 years for works published prior to 1978
and 35 years for works published thereafter.

The Company does not own any other material patents, franchises, or
concessions, but does have registered trademarks and service marks in connection
with its publishing businesses. The Company's operations are generally not
affected by environmental legislation.

Competition Within the Publishing Industry

The sectors of the publishing industry in which the Company is engaged
are highly competitive. The principal competitive criteria for the publishing
industry are believed to be product quality, suitability of format and subject
matter, author reputation, price, timely availability of both new titles and
revisions of existing texts, online availability of journal and other published
information and, for textbooks and certain trade books, timely delivery of
products to retail outlets and consumers. Recent years have seen a consolidation
trend within the publishing industry, including several publishing companies
having been acquired by larger publishers and other companies.

Based upon currently available industry statistics, the Company
believes that of books published and sold in the United States, it accounts for
approximately 3% of the total sales of such university and college textbooks,
and approximately 3% of the total sales of such professional books.

The Company knows of no reliable industry statistics which would
enable it to determine its share of the various foreign markets in which it
operates. The Company believes that the percentage of its total book publishing
sales in markets outside the United States is higher than that of most of the
United States publishers. The Company also believes it is in the top rank of
publishers of scientific and technical journals worldwide, as well as the
leading commercial chemistry publisher at the research level, and one of the
four largest publishers of university and college textbooks for the "hardside"
disciplines, i.e. engineering, sciences and mathematics.

Employees

As of April 30, 1999, the Company employed approximately 2,100 persons
on a full-time basis worldwide.

Financial Information About Industry Segments

The note entitled "Segment Information" of the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements listed in the attached index is incorporated herein by
reference.

Financial Information about Foreign and
Domestic Operations and Export Sales

The note entitled "Segment Information" of the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements listed in the attached index is incorporated herein by
reference.




Executive Officers

Set forth below as of April 30, 1999 are the names and ages of all
executive officers of the Company, the period during which they have been
officers, and the offices presently held by each of them.


NAME AND AGE OFFICER SINCE PRESENT OFFICE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bradford Wiley II 1993 Chairman of the Board since January 1993
58 and a Director

William J. Pesce 1989 President and Chief Executive Officer
48 and a Director since May 1, 1998, (previously
Chief Operating Officer; Executive Vice
President, Educational and International
Group; Senior Vice President, Educational and
International Group; and Senior Vice
President, Educational Publishing)

Stephen A. Kippur 1986 Executive Vice President and President,
52 Professional and Trade Publishing Division
since July 1998 (previously Executive Vice
President and Group President, PRT; Senior
Vice President, Professional, Reference &
Trade Publishing Group)

Richard S. Rudick 1978 Senior Vice President, General Counsel since
60 June 1989

Robert D. Wilder 1986 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
50 and Operations Officer since June 1996
(previously Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer)

William Arlington 1990 Senior Vice President, Human Resources since
50 June 1996 (previously Vice President,
Human Resources)

Peter W. Clifford 1989 Senior Vice President, Finance, Corporate
53 Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
since June 1996 (previously Vice President,
Finance and Controller)

Deborah E. Wiley 1982 Senior Vice President, Corporate
53 Communications since June 1996 (previously
Vice President and Director of Corporate
Communications, and a Director of the Company
until September 1998.)

Timothy B. King 1996 Senior Vice President, Planning and
59 Development since June 1996 (previously Vice
President, Planning and Development)

Each of the officers listed above will serve until the next
organizational meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company and until each
of the respective successors is duly elected and qualified. Deborah E. Wiley is
the sister of Bradford Wiley II. There is no other family relationship among any
of the aforementioned individuals.



Item 2. Properties

The Company's publishing businesses occupy office, warehouse, and
distribution centers in various parts of the world, as listed below (excluding
those locations with less than 10,000 square feet of floor area, none of which
is considered material property).


APPROX. LEASE
LOCATION PURPOSE SQ. FT. EXPIRATION DATE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEASED-DOMESTIC

New York Executive and 230,000 2003
Editorial Offices

New Jersey Distribution 170,000 2003
Center and Office

New Jersey Warehouse 132,000 2002

OWNED-FOREIGN
Germany Office and Warehouse 66,000

LEASED-FOREIGN

Australia Office 16,000 2002
Warehouse 26,000 2000

Canada Office 14,000 2001
Warehouse 41,000 2001

England Office 48,000 2009
Warehouse 82,000 2012

Germany Office 9,000 2004

Singapore Office and Warehouse 45,000 2002

All of the buildings and the equipment owned or leased are believed to
be in good condition and are generally fully utilized. The Company considers its
facilities overall to be adequate for its present and near-term anticipated
needs.



Item 3. Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in routine litigation in the ordinary course
of its business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution of all
pending litigation will not have a material effect upon the financial condition
or results of operations of the Company.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a
Vote of Security Holders

No matters were submitted to the Company's security holders during the
last quarter of the fiscal year ended April 30, 1999.

PART II

Item 5. Market for the Company's Common
Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

The Quarterly Share Prices, Dividends and Related Stockholder Matters
listed in the attached index are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The Selected Financial Data listed in the attached index is
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations listed in the attached index is incorporated herein by
reference.

Item 7A. Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information appearing under the caption "Market Risk" in
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations listed in the attached index is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The financial statements and supplementary data listed in the attached
index are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with
Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.



PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers

The information regarding the Board of Directors on pages 4 to 11 of
the 1999 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference, and information
regarding Executive Officers appears in Part I of this report.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information on pages 10 to 16 of the 1999 Proxy Statement is
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management

The information on pages 2, 3, 8, and 9 of the 1999 Proxy Statement is
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

None.




PART IV

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement
Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Financial Statements and Schedules

(1) List of Financial Statements filed. The financial
statements listed in the attached index are filed
as part of this Report.

(2) List of Financial Statement Schedules filed. The
financial statement schedules listed in the
attached index are filed as part of this Report.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K.
No reports on form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended
April 30, 1999.

(c) Exhibits

2.1 Amendment No. 1 to the Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of April 15,
1999 between the Company and Pearson Inc. (incorporated by reference
to the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated as of May 10, 1999).

2.2 Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of April 15, 1999 between the
Company and Pearson Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Company's
Report on Form 8-K dated as of May 10, 1999).

2.3 Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of May 21, 1999 between the Company
and Pearson Education, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 8-K dated as of May 21, 1999).

2.4 Purchase and Assignment Agreement dated May 7, 1996 among the Company
and VCH Publishing Limited Partnership (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated as of June 13, 1996).

2.5 Purchase and Assignment Agreement dated May 7, 1996 among the Company
and Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker e.V. and Deutsche Pharmazeutische
Gesellschaft e.V. (incorporated by reference to the Company's Report
on Form 8-K dated as of June 13, 1996).

3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1992).

3.2 Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation dated
October 13, 1995 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1997).

3.3 Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation dated as
of September 1998 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended October 31, 1998).

3.4 By-Laws as Amended and Restated dated as of September 1998
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarterly period ended October 31, 1998).

4.1 Form of agreement between the Company and certain employees
restricting transfer of Class B Common Stock (incorporated by
reference to the Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended January 31, 1986).

10.1 Credit agreement dated as of November 15, 1996 among the Company, the
Banks from time to time parties hereto, and Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York, as Agent (incorporated by reference to the
Company's report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended October
31, 1996).

10.2 1991 Key Employee Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Definitive Proxy Statement dated August 8, 1991).

10.3 Amendment to 1991 Key Employee Stock plan dated as of September 19,
1996 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Definitive Proxy
Statement dated August 9, 1996).

10.4 1987 Incentive Stock Option and Performance Stock Plan (incorporated
by reference to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statements dated August
10, 1987).

10.5 Amendment to 1987 Incentive Stock Option and Performance Stock Plan
dated as of March 2, 1989 (incorporated by reference to the Company's
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1989).

10.6 1990 Director Stock Plan as Amended and Restated as of June 22, 1995
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended April 30, 1997).

10.7 1989 Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (incorporated by reference
to the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30,
1989).

10.8 Agreement of Lease dated as of May 16, 1985 between Fisher 40th & 3rd
Company and Hawaiian Realty, Inc., Landlord, and the Company, Tenant
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended April 30, 1985).

10.9 Form of the Fiscal Year 1997 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended April 30, 1996).

10.10 Form of the Fiscal Year 1998 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended April 30, 1998).

10.11 Form of the Fiscal Year 1999 Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan.

10.12 Form of the Fiscal Year 1999 Executive Annual Incentive Plan.

10.13 Senior Executive Employment Agreement dated as of January 8, 1998
between William J. Pesce and the Company (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1998).

10.14 Senior Executive Employment Agreement amended as of March 29, 1995
between Charles R. Ellis and the Company (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1995).

10.15 Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated as of June 23, 1994 between
Charles R. Ellis and the Company (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31,
1995).

10.16 Senior Executive Employment Agreement dated as of July 1, 1994 between
Stephen A. Kippur and the Company (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31,
1995).

10.17 Amendment No. 1 to Stephen A. Kippur's Senior Executive Employment
Agreement dated as of July 1, 1994 (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31,
1995).

10.18 Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated as of June 23, 1994 between
Stephen A. Kippur and the Company (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31,
1995).

10.19 Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated as of June 23, 1994 between
William J. Pesce and the Company (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31,
1995).

10.20 Senior Executive Employment Agreement dated as of July 1, 1994 between
Robert D. Wilder and the Company (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31,
1995).

10.21 Amendment No. 1 to Robert D. Wilder's Senior Executive Employment
Agreement dated as of July 1, 1994 (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31,
1995).

10.22 Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated as of June 23, 1994 between
Robert D. Wilder and the Company (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31,
1995).

10.23 Employment agreement letter dated as of January 16, 1997 between
Richard S. Rudick and the Company (Incorporated by reference to the
Company's Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1997).

22 List of Subsidiaries of the Company.

23 Consent of Independent Public Accountants (included in this report as
listed in the attached index).

27 Financial Data Schedule.



JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES


The following financial statements and information appearing on the
pages indicated are filed as part of this Report:

Page(s)
Report of Independent Public Accountants and
Consent of Independent Public Accountants...............................16

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
as of April 30, 1999 and 1998...........................................17

Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings
for the years ended April 30, 1999, 1998 and 1997.......................18

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
for the years ended April 30, 1999, 1998 and 1997.......................18

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
years ended April 30, 1999, 1998 and 1997...............................19

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.........................20 - 30

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations..........................................31 - 34

Results by Quarter (Unaudited)..........................................35

Quarterly Share Prices, Dividends and Related Stockholder Matters.......35

Selected Financial Data.................................................36

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.........................37


Other schedules are omitted because of absence of conditions under
which they apply or because the information required is included in the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


To the Board of Directors and the Shareholders
of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial
position of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (a New York corporation), and subsidiaries
as of April 30, 1999 and 1998, and the related consolidated statements of income
and retained earnings and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended April 30, 1999. These financial statements and the schedule referred to
below are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is
to express an opinion on these financial statements and the schedule based on
our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., and subsidiaries as of April 30, 1999 and 1998, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
April 30, 1999 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the
basic financial statements taken as a whole. The schedule listed in the Index to
Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules is presented for purposes of
complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is not a
required part of the basic financial statements. This schedule has been
subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic
financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material
respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
New York, New York
June 11, 1999


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference of our report included in the John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1999, into the Company's previously filed
Registration Statement File Nos. 33-60268, 2-65296, 2-95104, 33-29372 and
33-62605.


ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
New York, New York
June 24, 1999



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. an April 30
Dollars in thousands 1999 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 148,970 $ 127,405
Accounts receivable 53,785 56,147
Inventories 40,003 44,912
Deferred income tax benefits 3,865 456
Prepaid expenses 9,347 8,690
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Current Assets 255,970 237,610
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Product Development Assets 38,099 36,039
Property and Equipment 34,726 34,310
Intangible Assets 174,911 172,798
Deferred Income Tax Benefits 13,001 15,593
Other Assets 11,845 10,564
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Assets $ 528,552 $ 506,914
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts and royalties payable $ 34,708 $ 36,854
Deferred subscription revenues 110,143 99,225
Accrued income taxes 3,356 1,174
Other accrued liabilities 46,893 41,100
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Current Liabilities 195,100 178,353
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Long-Term Debt 125,000 125,000
Other Long-Term Liabilities 30,271 26,663
Deferred Income Taxes 15,969 16,147
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock issued
Class A (67,548,260 and 67,106,196 shares) 67,548 67,106
Class B (15,641,752 and 15,868,728 shares) 15,642 15,869
Additional paid-in capital 13,045 5,624
Retained earnings 154,759 122,906
Accumulated other comprehensive income (526) (540)
Unearned deferred compensation (3,114) (2,715)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
247,354 208,250
Less Treasury shares at cost
(Class A - 17,323,920 and 15,498,412;
Class B - 3,484,096 and 3,484,096) (85,142) (47,499)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Shareholders' Equity 162,212 160,751
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $528,552 $506,914
=========================================================================


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements.




CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
AND RETAINED EARNINGS


John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and Subsidiaries For the years ended April 30
Dollars in thousands except per share data 1999 1998 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues $ 508,435 $ 467,081 $ 431,974

Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales 173,983 164,169 155,245
Operating and administrative expenses 261,353 250,008 233,771
Amortization of intangibles 9,445 12,040 8,161
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Costs and Expenses 444,781 426,217 397,177
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gain on Sale of Publishing Assets -- 21,292 --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating Income 63,654 62,156 34,797

Interest Income and Other 5,713 3,863 2,281
Interest Expense (7,322) (7,933) (6,225)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest Income (Expense)-Net (1,609) (4,070) (3,944)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income Before Taxes 62,045 58,086 30,853
Provision for Income Taxes 22,336 21,498 10,513
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Income 39,709 36,588 20,340
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained Earnings at Beginning of Year 122,906 93,337 106,716
Retroactive Effect of 2-for-1 Stock Splits -- -- (27,486)
Cash Dividends
Class A Common
($.1275, $.1125 and $.1000 per share) (6,479) (5,766) (5,116)
Class B Common
($.1125, $.1000 and $ .0875 per share) (1,377) (1,253) (1,117)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Dividends (7,856) (7,019) (6,233)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained Earnings at End of Year $ 154,759 $ 122,906 $ 93,337
===========================================================================
Income Per Share
Diluted $ 0.60 $ 0.55 $ 0.31
Basic $ 0.63 $ 0.58 $ 0.32


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME


John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and Subsidiaries For the years ended April 30
Dollars in thousands 1999 1998 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Income $ 39,709 $ 36,588 $ 20,340
Other Comprehensive Income
Foreign currency translation adjustments 14 (646) 3,192
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive Income $ 39,723 $ 35,942 $ 23,532
===============================================================================

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements.



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and Subsidiaries For the years ended April 30
Dollars in thousands 1999 1998 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Activities
Net Income $ 39,709 $ 36,588 $ 20,340
Noncash Items
Amortization of intangibles 9,445 12,040 8,161
Amortization of composition costs 21,322 20,213 17,763
Depreciation of property and equipment 9,788 9,188 8,340
Reserves for returns, doubtful accounts,
and obsolescence 5,406 10,181 11,861
Deferred income taxes (1,056) 9,234 3,243
Gain on sale of publishing assets -- (21,292) --
Other 10,822 12,207 7,300
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities
Decrease (increase) in receivables 1,151 (2,872) (178)
Decrease in inventories 3,032 4,426 1,791
Increase (decrease) in
accounts and royalties payable (1,917) 6,000 (12,109)
Increase in deferred subscription
revenues 10,413 5,983 7,769
Net change in other operating
assets and liabilities 9,783 2,162 (10,372)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Provided by Operating Activities 117,898 104,058 63,909
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investing Activities
Additions to product development assets (31,998) (30,220) (25,466)
Additions to property and equipment (10,631) (11,935) (8,868)
Proceeds from sale of publishing assets -- 26,500 --
Acquisition of publishing assets (10,429) (30,491) (103,980)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Used for Investing Activities (53,058) (46,146) (138,314)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financing Activities
Purchase of treasury shares (38,549) (4,281) (10,506)
Additions to long-term debt -- -- 125,000
Repayment of long-term debt -- -- (10,542)
Net repayments of short-term debt -- (156) (1,270)
Cash dividends (7,856) (7,019) (6,233)
Proceeds from issuance of
stock on option exercises and other 5,159 2,288 1,249
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Provided by (Used for)
Financing Activities (41,246) (9,168) 97,698
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effects of exchange rate changes
on cash (2,029) (455) 539
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Increase for year 21,565 48,289 23,832
Balance at beginning of year 127,405 79,116 55,284
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of year $ 148,970 $ 127,405 $ 79,116
================================================================================
Cash Paid During the Year for
Interest $ 7,886 $ 8,042 $ 5,143
Income taxes $ 17,201 $ 12,409 $ 7,995


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the
consolidated financial statements.



Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its majority-owned
subsidiaries (the "Company"). All significant intercompany items have been
eliminated.

Common Stock Splits: During fiscal 1999, the Company declared two
2-for-1 stock splits for both its Class A and Class B common stock. The first
split was in October 1998, and the second split was distributed in May 1999. All
shares and per share amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial
statements have been restated to reflect the effects of both stock splits.

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Subscription Revenues: Subscription revenues are generally collected
in advance. These revenues are deferred and recognized as earned when the
related issue is shipped or made available on-line to the subscriber.

Sales Returns and Doubtful Accounts: The Company provides an estimated
allowance for doubtful accounts and for future returns on sales made during the
year. The allowance for doubtful accounts and returns (estimated returns net of
inventory and royalty costs) is shown as a reduction of receivables in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets and amounted to $41.8 and $41.6 million
at April 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively.

Depreciation and Amortization: Buildings, leasehold improvements, and
capital leases are amortized over the lesser of the estimated useful lives of
the assets up to 40 years, or the duration of the various leases, using the
straight-line method. Furniture and equipment is depreciated principally on the
straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 10 years.
Composition costs representing the costs incurred to bring an edited manuscript
to publication including typesetting, proofreading, design and illustration,
etc., are capitalized and amortized over estimated useful lives representative
of product revenue patterns, generally three years.

Intangible Assets: Intangible assets consist of acquired publication
rights, which are principally amortized over periods ranging from 3 to 30 years
based on the projected revenues of rights acquired; noncompete agreements; which
are amortized over the term of such agreements, and goodwill and other
intangibles, which are amortized on a straight - line basis over periods ranging
from 5 to 40 years. If facts and circumstances indicate that long-lived assets
and/or intangible assets may be permanently impaired, it is the Company's policy
to assess the carrying value and recoverability of such assets based on an
analysis of undiscounted future cash flows of the related operations. Any
resulting reduction in carrying value based on the estimated fair value would be
charged to operating results.

Derivative Financial Instruments - Foreign Exchange Contracts: The Company,
from time to time, enters into forward exchange contracts as a hedge against its
overseas subsidiaries' foreign currency asset, liability, commitment and
anticipated transaction exposures. To qualify as a hedge, the financial
instrument must be designated as a hedge against identified items which have a
high correlation with the financial instrument. The Company does not use
financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Realized and
unrealized gains and losses are deferred and taken into income over the lives of
the hedged items if permitted by generally accepted accounting principles;
otherwise the contracts are marked to market with any gains and losses reflected
in operating expenses. There were no open foreign exchange contracts and no
gains or losses were deferred at April 30, 1999 or 1998. Included in operating
and administrative expenses were net foreign exchange gains (losses) of
approximately $(.1), $(.1) and $.7 million in 1999, 1998, and 1997,
respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation: Stock options and restricted stock grants
are accounted for in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and the disclosure-only provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation." Accordingly, the Company recognizes no compensation expense for
fixed stock option grants since the exercise price is equal to the fair value of
the shares at date of grant. For restricted stock grants, compensation cost is
recognized generally ratably over the vesting period based on the fair value of
shares.

Cash Equivalents: Cash equivalents consist primarily of highly liquid
investments with a maturity of three months or less and are stated at cost plus
accrued interest, which approximates market value.

New Accounting Standards: In fiscal 1999, the Company adopted the
following Statements of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS"): SFAS No. 130,
"Reporting Comprehensive Income," which requires disclosure of comprehensive
income and its components, as defined; SFAS No. 131, "Disclosure about Segments
of an Enterprise and Related Information," which requires certain financial and
descriptive information about a company's reportable operating statements; and
SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and other Postretirement
Benefits," which requires additional disclosures relating to a company's pension
and postretirement benefit plans. The adoption of these new accounting standards
require additional disclosures and did not have a material effect on the
consolidated financial results or financial position of the Company.

In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position ("SOP") 98-1, "Accounting for the Cost of Computer
Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use," which requires that certain
costs incurred in developing or obtaining internal use software be capitalized
and amortized over the useful life of the software. The Company will be required
to adopt SOP 98-1 beginning in fiscal year 2000 and is currently evaluating the
effect this will have on its consolidated financial statements. Currently, the
Company expenses most of these costs as incurred. The Financial Accounting
Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities," which specifies the accounting and disclosure requirements
for such instruments, and is effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning
on May 1, 2001. It is anticipated that the adoption of this new accounting
standard will not have a material effect on the consolidated financial
statements of the Company.

Income Per Share

A reconciliation of the shares used in the computation of income
per-share follows:

In thousands 1999 1998 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average shares outstanding 63,738 63,876 64,117
Less:Unearned deferred compensation shares (781) (782) (838)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares used for basic income per share 62,957 63,094 63,279
Dilutive effect of stock options and other
stock awards 3,556 2,858 2,208
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares used for diluted income per share 66,513 65,952 65,487
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acquisitions

In fiscal 1999, the Company acquired various publishing properties for
approximately $10.4 million in cash including the Huthig Publishing Group's
scientific book and journals program; the German Materials Science Society book
program; Chronimed's publishing program in such areas as general health,
cooking, nutrition, diabetes and other chronic illnesses; Hewin International, a
publisher of technological-commercial reports in the areas of agrochemicals,
biochemistry, oleochemicals, and petrochemicals; and the remaining shares of
Verlag Helvetica Chemica Acta, a scientific publisher of chemistry books and
journals. The excess of cost over the fair value of the tangible assets acquired
amounted to approximately $11.4 million, relating primarily to acquired
publishing rights that are being amortized on a straight-line basis over periods
ranging from 5 to 30 years.


In fiscal 1998, the Company acquired the publishing assets of Van
Nostrand Reinhold (VNR) for approximately $28 million in cash. VNR publishes in
such areas as architecture / design, environmental / industrial sciences,
culinary arts / hospitality, and business technology. The excess of cost over
the fair value of the tangible assets acquired amounted to approximately $23
million, relating primarily to acquired publication rights that are being
amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated average life of 15 years.
In addition, during the year, the Company acquired various newsletters, books,
and journals for purchase prices aggregating approximately $2 million, which
primarily relates to acquired publication rights that are being amortized over
periods ranging from 15 to 30 years.

In fiscal 1997, the Company acquired a 90% interest in the
German-based VCH Publishing Group ("VCH") through the purchase of 90% of the
shares of VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH for approximately $99 million in cash. VCH
is a leading scientific, technical, and professional publisher of journals and
books in such disciplines as chemistry, architecture, and civil engineering. The
excess of cost over the fair value of the tangible assets acquired amounted to
approximately $112 million relating to acquired publication rights, which are
being amortized on a straight-line basis over an average life of 30 years. In
addition, during the year, the Company acquired various newsletters including
the publishing assets of Technical Insights, Inc., a publisher of print and
electronic newsletters in various areas of science and technology, for purchase
prices aggregating $5 million, which primarily relates to goodwill and is being
amortized on a straight-line basis over 10 years.

All acquisitions have been accounted for by the purchase method, and
the accompanying financial statements include their results of operations since
their respective dates of acquisition.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent to the fiscal 1999 year-end, the Company acquired certain
publishing assets from Pearson including college text books and instructional
packages in biology/anatomy and physiology, engineering, mathematics, economics
/ finance and teacher education, for approximately $58 million in cash. In
addition, the Company acquired the Jossey-Bass publishing company from Pearson
for approximately $82 million in cash. Jossey-Bass publishes books and journals
for professionals and executives primarily in the areas of business, psychology,
and education/health management.

Divested Operations

In fiscal 1998, the Company sold its domestic law publishing program
for $26.5 million, resulting in a gain of $21.3 million. Offsetting this gain
are special asset write-downs and other items amounting to approximately $4.4
million, including write-downs of intangible assets of approximately $3.3
million in accordance with the Company's policy of evaluating such assets, and
if deemed to be permanently impaired, writing them down to net realizable value
based on discounted cash flows. The net effect of these unusual items amounted
to a pretax gain of $16.9 million, or $9.7 million after taxes, equal to $.14
per diluted share, or $.15 per basic share.

Inventories

Inventories at April 30 were as follows:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Finished Goods $ 34,485 $ 38,039
Work-in-Process 5,325 6,864
Paper, Cloth, and Other 2,007 2,084
- -----------------------------------------------------------
41,817 46,987
LIFO Reserve (1,814) (2,075)
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 40,003 $ 44,912
- -----------------------------------------------------------

Domestic book inventories aggregating $27.4 and $29.6 million at April
30, 1999 and 1998, respectively, are stated at cost or market, whichever is
lower, using the last-in, first-out method. All other inventories are stated at
cost or market, whichever is lower, using the first-in, first-out method.

Product Development Assets

Product development assets consisted of the following at April 30:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Composition Costs $27,110 $25,468
Royalty Advances 10,989 10,571
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Total $38,099 $ 36,039
- -----------------------------------------------------------

Composition costs are net of accumulated amortization of $44,107 in
1999 and $40,108 in 1998.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consisted of the following at April 30:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------

Land and Land Improvements $ 1,542 $ 1,542
Buildings and Leasehold Improvements 19,891 17,043
Furniture and Equipment 72,481 64,570
- -------------------------------------------------------------
93,914 83,155
Accumulated Depreciation (59,188) (48,845)
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ 34,726 $ 34,310
- -------------------------------------------------------------

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consisted of the following at April 30:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Acquired Publication Rights $164,705 $149,977
Goodwill and Other Intangibles 51,870 52,061
Non-compete Agreements 1,516 1,316
- ----------------------------------------------------------
218,091 203,354
Accumulated Amortization (43,180) (30,556)
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Total $174,911 $172,798
- ----------------------------------------------------------

Other Accrued Liabilities

Included in other accrued liabilities was accrued compensation of
approximately $21.3 million and $20.1 million for 1999 and 1998, respectively.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes was as follows:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Currently Payable
Federal $ 16,419 $6,781 $ 945
Foreign 4,663 4,332 5,295
State and local 2,249 1,166 1,026
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Total Current Provision 23,331 12,279 7,266
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred Provision
Federal (4,060) 6,211 2,496
Foreign 1,922 1,629 834
State and local 1,143 1,379 (83)
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Total Deferred Provision (995) 9,219 3,247
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Total Provision $ 22,336 $21,498 $10,513
- -------------------------------------------------------------

The Company's effective income tax rate as a percent of pretax income
differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate as shown below:

1999 1998 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Federal Statutory Rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0%

State and Local Income Taxes
Net of Federal Income Tax Benefit 3.6 2.8 2.0

Tax Benefit Derived From FSC Income (2.5) (2.7) (4.8)

Foreign Source Earnings Taxed at
Other Than U.S. Statutory Rate .1 .6 .3

Nondeductible Amortization of
Intangibles .6 .7 .9

Other-Net (.8) .6 .7
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Effective Income Tax Rate 36.0% 37.0% 34.1%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------

Deferred taxes result from timing differences in the recognition of
revenue and expense for tax and financial reporting purposes. The components of
the provision for deferred taxes were as follows:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------

Depreciation and Amortization $(2,356) $(2,898) $(691)
Accrued Expenses 2,500 (275) 264
Provision for Sales Returns and
Doubtful Accounts (3,414) 5,699 (959)
Inventory 5 1,331 112
Retirement Benefits (1,454) (23) (87)
Long-Term Liabilities (1,175) 2,541 1,562
Alternative Minimum Tax Credit and
Other Carryforwards 288 236 653
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards 4,500 1,631 (1,150)
Valuation Allowance 245 826 2,432
Other-Net (134) 151 1,111
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Total Deferred Provision $ (995) $ 9,219 $3,247
- ---------------------------------------------------------------

The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were
as follows:

1999 1998
--------------------------------------------------
Long- Long-
Dollars in thousands Current Term Current Term
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deferred Tax Assets
Net Operating Loss
Carryforwards $ -- $ 21,631 $ -- $ 26,131
Reserve for Sales Returns
and Doubtful Accounts 5,608 -- 2,194
Costs Capitalized for Taxes -- 2,900 -- 3,054
Retirement and Post-
Employment Benefits -- 4,924 -- 3,470
Amortization of Intangibles -- 4,018 -- 2,513
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Deferred Tax Assets 5,608 33,473 2,194 35,168
Less: Valuation Allowance -- (12,798) -- (12,553)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Deferred Tax Assets 5,608 20,675 2,194 22,615
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Inventory (1,743) -- (1,738) --
Depreciation and Amortization -- (3,454) -- (4,305)
Accrued Expenses -- (9,502) -- (7,002)
Long-Term Liabilities -- (10,687) -- (11,862)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities (1,743) (23,643) (1,738) (23,169)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Deferred Tax Assets (Liability) $3,865 $(2,968) $456 $(554)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Approximately $9 million of the valuation allowance relates to net
deferred tax assets recorded in connection with the VCH acquisition. Any amounts
realized in future years will reduce the intangible assets recorded at date of
acquisition.

Current taxes payable for 1999 have been reduced by $4.6 million
relating to the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards. At April 30,
1999, the Company had aggregate unused net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately $50 million, which may be available to reduce future taxable
income primarily in foreign tax jurisdictions and generally have no expiration
date.

In general, the Company plans to continue to invest the undistributed
earnings of its foreign subsidiaries in those businesses, and therefore no
provision is made for taxes that would be payable if such earnings were
distributed. At April 30, 1999, the undistributed earnings of foreign
subsidiaries approximated $28 million and, if remitted currently, would result
in additional taxes approximating $6 million.

Notes Payable and Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following at April 30:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Term Loan Notes Payable Due
October 2000 Through 2003 $ 125,000 $125,000

The weighted average interest rate on the term loan was 5.85% and
6.21% during 1999 and 1998, respectively; and 5.25% and 6.19% at April 30, 1999
and 1998, respectively.

The Company has a $175 million credit agreement expiring on October
31, 2003, with eight banks. The credit agreement consists of a term loan of $125
million and a $50 million revolving credit facility. The Company has the option
of borrowing at the following floating interest rates: (i) Eurodollars at a rate
based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus an applicable margin
ranging from .15% to .30% depending on certain coverage ratios, or (ii) dollars
at a rate based on the current certificate of deposit rate, plus an applicable
margin ranging from .275% to .425% depending on certain coverage ratios, or
(iii) dollars at the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus .5% and (b) the
banks' prime rate. In addition, the Company pays a facility fee ranging from
.10% to .20 % on the total facility depending on certain coverage ratios.

In the event of a change of control, as defined, the banks have the
option to terminate the agreement and require repayment of any amounts
outstanding. Amounts outstanding under the term loan have mandatory repayments
as follows:

Dollars in thousands 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
$-- $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $35,000

The credit agreement contains certain restrictive covenants related to
minimum net worth, funded debt levels, an interest coverage ratio, and
restricted payments, including a cumulative limitation for dividends paid and
share repurchases. Under the most restrictive covenant, approximately $58
million was available for such restricted payments as of April 30, 1999.

The Company and its subsidiaries have other short-term lines of credit
aggregating $50 million at various interest rates. Information relating to all
short-term lines of credit follows:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
End of Year
Amount outstanding $-- $-- $172
Weighted average interest rate -- 10.4%

During the Year
Maximum amount outstanding $-- $28,794 $26,253
Average amount outstanding $-- $742 11,368
Weighted average interest rate -- 8.5% 6.0%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------

Based on estimates of interest rates currently available to the
Company for loans with similar terms and maturities, the fair value of notes
payable and long-term debt approximates the carrying value.



Commitments and Contingencies

The following schedule shows the composition of rent expense for
operating leases:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum Rental $13,935 $13,137 $13,654
Lease Escalation 2,248 2,250 2,188
Less: Sublease Rentals (60) (50) (19)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Total $16,123 $15,337 $15,823
- ---------------------------------------------------------------

Future minimum payments under operating leases aggregated $78.3
million at April 30, 1999. Annual payments under these leases are $17.7, $17.4,
$17.0, $16.0 and $7.5 million for fiscal years 2000 through 2004, respectively.

The Company is involved in routine litigation in the ordinary course
of its business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution of all
pending litigation will not have a material effect upon the financial condition
or results of operations of the Company.



Segment Information

The Company is a global publisher of print and electronic products,
specializing in scientific, technical and medical books and journals;
professional and consumer books and subscription services; and text books and
educational materials for colleges and universities. The Company has publishing,
marketing and distribution centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia
and Australia, which service indigenous publications, as well as Company-wide
publications. The Company's reportable segments are based on the management
reporting structure used to evaluate performance. Segment information was as
follows:




Dollars In thousands 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eliminations
European Other & Corporate
Domestic Segments Segment Segments Items Total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Scientific,
Technical, Professional/
and Medical Trade College
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Revenues
- -External Customers $ 131,132 $ 104,338 $ 84,326 $ 135,008 $ 53,631 $ -- $ 508,435
- -Intersegment Sales 7,375 13,587 14,141 11,396 466 (46,965) --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -Total Revenues $ 138,507 $ 117,925 $ 98,467 $ 146,404 $ 54,097 $ (46,965) $ 508,435

Direct Contribution To Profit $ 59,325 $ 28,048 $ 22,232 $ 42,232 $ 8,846 -- $ 160,683
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shared Services & Admin. Costs (97,029)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Income 63,654
Interest Expense-Net (1,609)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income Before Taxes $ 62,045
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets $ 62,250 $ 87,130 $ 24,107 $ 162,379 $ 17,919 $ 174,767 $ 528,552
Expenditures For Long-Lived Assets $ 7,826 $ 14,047 $ 6,686 $ 18,906 $ 2,444 $ 3,149 $ 53,058
Depreciation & Amortization $ 6,664 $ 9,288 $ 7,138 $ 13,061 $ 945 $ 3,459 $ 40,555







Dollars In thousands 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eliminations
European Other & Corporate
Domestic Segments Segment Segments Items Total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Scientific,
Technical, Professional/
and Medical Trade College
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revenues
- -External Customers $ 123,080 $ 90,564 $ 76,317 $ 122,385 $ 54,735 $ -- $ 467,081
- -Intersegment Sales 6,741 11,701 14,558 11,164 344 (44,508) --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -Total Revenues $ 129,821 $ 102,265 $ 90,875 $ 133,549 $ 55,079 ($ 44,508) $ 467,081
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct Contribution To Profit $ 55,405 $ 19,881 $ 17,833 $ 37,185 $ 7,679 -- $ 137,983
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shared Services & Admin. Costs (92,720)
Unusual Items 16,893
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Income 62,156
Interest Expense-Net (4,070)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income Before Taxes $ 58,086
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets $ 62,103 $ 83,166 $ 32,625 $ 158,933 $ 17,626 $ 152,461 $ 506,914
Expenditures For Long-Lived Assets $ 12,231 $ 37,128 $ 7,823 $ 8,641 $ 1,068 $ 5,755 $ 72,646
Depreciation & Amortization $ 5,619 $ 9,152 $ 7,698 $ 11,628 $ 1,034 $ 3,035 $ 38,166






Dollars In thousands 1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eliminations
European Other & Corporate
Domestic Segments Segment Segments Items Total
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Scientific,
Technical, Professional/
and Medical Trade College
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revenues
- -External Customers $ 111,873 $ 83,896 $ 70,144 $ 110,879 $ 55,182 $ -- $ 431,974
- -Intersegment Sales 6,466 11,863 13,140 5,995 320 (37,784) --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -Total Revenues $ 118,339 $ 95,759 $ 83,284 $ 116,874 $ 55,502 ($ 37,784) $ 431,974
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct Contribution To Profit $ 51,208 $ 13,408 $ 13,580 $ 32,929 $ 11,204 -- $ 122,329
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shared Services & Admin. Costs (87,532)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Income 34,797
Interest Expense-Net (3,944)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income Before Taxes $ 30,853
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets $ 53,794 $ 70,147 $ 37,079 $ 165,997 $ 21,118 $ 109,809 $ 457,944
Expenditures For Long-Lived Assets $ 9,197 $ 13,356 $ 7,159 $ 105,045 $ 1,583 $ 1,974 $ 138,314
Depreciation & Amortization $ 4,159 $ 8,244 $ 8,233 $ 8,858 $ 989 $ 3,781 $ 34,264



Intersegment sales are generally made at a fixed discount from list
price. Shared services and administrative costs include costs for such services
as information technology, distribution, occupancy, human resources, finance and
administration. These costs are not allocated as they support the Company's
worldwide operations. Corporate assets primarily consist of cash and cash
equivalents, deferred tax benefits, and certain property and equipment. Unusual
items amounting to $16,893 in 1998 relate to the gain on the sale of the
domestic law publishing program, net of a write-down of certain intangible
assets and other items. Export sales from the United States to unaffiliated
international customers amounted to approximately $60.5, $56.5 and $51.4 million
in 1999, 1998, and 1997, respectively. The pretax income for consolidated
international operations was approximately $17.3, $14.1, $16.5 million in 1999,
1998, and 1997, respectively.

Worldwide revenues for the Company's core product lines were as
follows:

Dollars in thousands Revenues
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scientific, Technical, and Medical $232,594 $217,331 $199,206
Professional/Trade 156,713 137,270 126,899
Educational 119,128 112,480 105,869
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $508,435 $467,081 $431,974
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revenues from external customers and long-lived assets by geographic
area were as follows:

Dollars in thousands Revenues Long-Lived Assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1999 1998 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic $278,783 $253,429 $229,990 $121,643 $123,609 $104,498
International 229,652 213,652 201,984 137,938 130,102 136,307
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $508,435 $467,081 $431,974 $259,581 $253,711 $240,805
================================================================================



Retirement Plans

The Company and its principal subsidiaries have contributory and
noncontributory retirement plans that cover substantially all employees. The
plans generally provide for employee retirement between the ages of 60 to 65 and
benefits based on length of service and final average compensation, as defined.

The Company has agreements with certain officers and senior management
personnel that provide for the payment of supplemental retirement benefits
during each of the 10 years after the termination of employment. Under certain
circumstances, including a change of control as defined, the payment of such
amounts could be accelerated on a present value basis.

The Company provides life insurance and health care benefits, subject
to certain dollar limitations and retiree contributions, for substantially all
of its retired domestic employees. The cost of such benefits is expensed over
the years that the employees render service and is funded on a pay-as-you-go,
cash basis. The accumulated postretirement benefit obligation amounted to $.3
million at April 30, 1999 and 1998, and the amount expensed in fiscal 1999 and
prior years was not material.

The components of net pension expense for the defined benefit plans
were as follows:

Dollars in thousands 1999 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Service Cost $ 4,960 $ 3,913 $ 3,372
Interest Cost 6,498 5,883 5,168
Expected Return on Plan Assets (6,684) (5,460) (5,039)
Net Amortization of Prior Service Cost 356 355 294
Net Amortization of Unrecognized Transition Asset (850) (852) (849)
Recognized Net Actuarial Gain (157) (59) (62)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Pension Expense $ 4,123 3,780 2,884
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In fiscal 1999, the domestic plan was amended to provide that final
average compensation be based on the highest three consecutive years ended
December 31, 1995. The Company may, but is not required to, update from time to
time the ending date for the three-year period used to determine final average
compensation. The amendment had the effect of increasing pension expense for
fiscal 1999 by $.2 million. The net pension expense included above for the
international plans amounted to approximately $2.6, $2.1 and $1.5 million for
1999, 1998, and 1997, respectively.



The following table sets forth the changes in and the status of the
plans' assets and benefit obligations. The unfunded plans primarily relate to a
non-U.S. subsidiary, which is governed by local statutory requirements, and the
domestic supplemental retirement plans for certain officers and senior
management personnel.




1999 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets Exceed Accumulated Assets Exceed Accumulated
Accumulated Benefits Accumulated Benefits
Dollars in thousands Benefits Assets Benefits Assets
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plan Assets
Fair Value, beginning of year $ 84,262 $ -- $ 68,385 $ --
Actual Return on Plan Assets 9,780 -- 16,411 --
Employer Contributions 1,866 -- 1,610 --
Participants' Contributions 227 -- 2 --
Benefits Paid (2,621) -- (2,587) --
Foreign Currency Rate Changes (1,125) -- 441 --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair Value, end of year $ 92,389 $ -- $ 84,262 $ --
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit Obligation
Balance, beginning of year $(63,429) $(20,506) $(57,226) $(19,895)
Service Cost (4,122) (838) (3,172) (741)
Interest Cost (5,057) (1,441) (4,547) (1,336)
Amendments (1,748) -- (879) --
Actuarial Loss/(Gain) (4,133) (1,902) -- (241)
Benefits paid 2,621 963 2,587 1,100
Foreign Currency Rate Changes 915 382 (192) 607
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, end of year $(74,953) $(23,342) $(63,429) $(20,506)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funded Status - Excess (Deficit) 17,436 (23,342) 20,833 (20,506)
Unrecognized Net Transition Asset (1,928) -- (2,907) --
Unrecognized Net Actuarial Loss (Gain) (16,800) 2,630 (18,738) 1,639
Unrecognized Prior Service Cost 3,830 1,085 2,401 593
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Prepaid (Accrued) Pension Cost $ 2,538 $(19,627) $ 1,589 $(18,274)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The weighted average assumption used in determining these amounts were as follows:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discount Rate 7.2% 6.8% 7.9% 7.0%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expected Return On Plan Assets 8.0% -% 8.0% -%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rate of Compensation Increase 2.3% 4.8% 2.5% 4.8%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Stock Compensation Plans

Under the Company's Key Employee Stock Plan, qualified employees are
eligible to receive awards that may include stock options, performance stock
awards, and restricted stock awards up to a maximum per year of 3% of Class A
stock outstanding and subject to an overall maximum of 8,000,000 shares through
the year 2000. As of April 30, 1999, approximately 1,274,432 shares were
available for future grants.

Options granted under the plan may not be less than 100% of the fair
market value of the stock at the date of grant. Options are exercisable, in part
or in full, over a maximum period of 10 years from the date of grant, and
generally vest within five years from the date of the grant. Under certain
circumstances relating to a change of control, as defined, the right to exercise
options outstanding could be accelerated.

The Company elected to apply the disclosure-only provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation." Accordingly, no compensation cost is recognized for fixed stock
option grants. Had compensation cost been recognized, net income would have been
reduced on a pro forma basis by $1.1 million, or $.02 per diluted share, in
1999; $.6 million, or $.01 per diluted share, in 1998; and $.4 million, or $.01
per diluted share, in 1997. For the pro forma calculations, the fair value of
each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model with the following assumptions for 1999, 1998, and 1997:
risk-free interest rate of 5.6%, 6.5%, and 7.1%, respectively; dividend yield of
1.2%, 1.3%, and 1.5%, respectively; volatility of 23.2% 18.1%, and 22.0%,
respectively; and expected life of nine years for all years.


A summary of the activity and status of the Company's stock option
plans follows:



1999 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted Weighted Weighted
Average Average Average
Options Exercise Price Options Exercise Price Options Exercise Price
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Outstanding at beginning of year 4,207,636 5.18 4,167,756 4.47 4,114,652 3.84
Granted 958,636 13.88 598,712 8.63 573,396 7.59
Exercised (345,388) 3.26 (550,332) 3.53 (429,292) 2.71
Canceled - - (8,500) 6.47 (91,000) 4.31
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at end of year 4,820,884 7.04 4,207,636 5.18 4,167,756 4.47
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exercisable at end of year 2,578,964 4.05 2,162,272 3.38 2,415,764 3.05




The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year was
$5.25, $3.17 and $3.01 in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

A summary of information about stock options outstanding and options
exercisable at April 30, 1999, follows:

Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted Weighted
Number Average Average Number Average
Range of Of Remaining Exercise Of Exercise
Exercise Prices Options Term Price Options Price
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 1.97 to $ 3.06 1,456,748 2.5 years $ 2.54 1,456,748 $2.54
$ 5.17 642,168 5.1 years $ 5.17 622,836 $5.17
$ 6.56 to $ 14.59 2,721,968 7.8 years $ 9.90 499,380 $7.09
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 4,820,884 5.9 years $ 7.04 2,578,964 $4.05
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Under the terms of the Company's executive long-term incentive plans,
upon the achievement of certain three-year financial performance-based targets,
awards will be payable in restricted shares of the Company's Class A Common
stock. The restricted shares vest equally as to 50% on the first and second
anniversary date after the date the award is earned. Compensation expense is
charged to earnings over the respective three-year period. In addition, the
Company granted restricted shares of the Company's Class A Common stock to key
executive officers and others in connection with their employment. The
restricted shares generally vest one-third at the end of the third, fourth, and
fifth years, respectively, following the date of the grant. Under certain
circumstances relating to a change of control or termination, as defined, the
restrictions would lapse and shares would vest earlier. Compensation expense is
charged to earnings ratably over five years, or sooner if vesting is
accelerated, from the dates of grant. Restricted shares issued in connection
with the above plans amounted to 114,400, 153,948 and 102,552 shares at
weighted-average grant-date fair values of $14.55, $8.40 and, $7.25 per share in
1999, 1998, and 1997, respectively. Compensation expense charged to earnings for
the above amounted to $3.0, $2.6 million, and $1.5 million in 1999, 1998, and
1997, respectively.

Under the terms of the Company's Director Stock Plan, each member of
the Board of Directors who is not an employee of the Company is awarded Class A
Common stock equal to 50% of the board member's annual cash compensation, based
on the market value of the stock on the date of the shareholders' meeting.
Directors may also elect to receive all or a portion of their cash compensation
in stock. Under this plan 15,884, 28,196 and 41,096 shares were issued in 1999,
1998, and 1997, respectively. Compensation expense related to this plan amounted
to approximately $.5 million, $.3 million, and $.3 million in 1999, 1998, and
1997, respectively.

Capital Stock and Changes in Capital Accounts

Preferred stock consists of 2,000,000 authorized shares with $1 par
value. To date, no preferred shares have been issued. Common stock consists of
90,000,000 authorized shares of Class A Common, $1 par value, and 36,000,000
authorized shares of Class B Common, $1 par value.

Each share of the Company's Class B Common stock is convertible into
one share of Class A Common stock. The holders of Class A stock are entitled to
elect 30% of the entire Board of Directors and the holders of Class B stock are
entitled to elect the remainder. On all other matters, each share of Class A
stock is entitled to one-tenth of one vote and each share of Class B stock is
entitled to one vote.

In fiscal 1999, the Company completed its existing stock repurchase
program for up to 4 million shares, and announced a new stock repurchase program
for up to an additional 4 million shares of its Class A common stock. The shares
will be purchased from time to time in the open market and through privately
negotiated transactions. To date through April 30, 1999, the Company has
repurchased 270,000 shares for a cost of approximately $5.5 million under the
new program.

Accumulated other comprehensive income balances consist solely of
cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments.



Changes in selected capital accounts were as follows:



Additional
Common Stock Paid-in Treasury
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dollars in thousands Class A Class B Capital Stock
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance at May 1, 1996 $ 16,412 $ 4,086 $ 31,615 $(33,493)
Director Stock Plan Issuance -- -- 217 85
Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan Issuance -- -- 132 47
Purchase of Treasury Shares -- -- -- (10,506)
Restricted Share Issuance -- -- 337 149
Issuance of Shares Under Employee Savings Plan -- -- 212 84
Exercise of Stock Options 108 -- 1,056 --
Other 49 (49) 763 4
Retroactive Effect of Two 2-For-1 Stock Splits 49,707 12,111 (34,332) --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at May 1, 1997 $ 66,276 $ 16,148 $ 0 $(43,630)
Director Stock Plan Issuance -- -- 217 67
Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan Issuance -- -- 192 73
Purchase of Treasury Shares -- -- -- (4,281)
Restricted Share Issuance -- -- 1,862 270
Issuance of Shares Under Employee Savings Plan -- -- 316 101
Exercise of Stock Options 551 -- 3,037 (99)
Other 279 (279) -- --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at May 1, 1998 $ 67,106 $ 15,869 $ 5,624 $(47,499)
Director Stock Plan Issuance -- -- 207 46
Executive Long-Term Incentive Plan Issuance -- -- 233 52
Purchase of Treasury Shares -- -- -- (38,549)
Restricted Share Issuance -- -- 2,754 349
Issuance of Shares Under Employee Savings Plan -- -- 461 86
Exercise of Stock Options 215 -- 3,766 373
Other 227 (227) -- --
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at April 30, 1999 $ 67,548 $ 15,642 $ 13,045 $(85,142)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of
Operations


Results of Operations:
Fiscal 1999 Compared to Fiscal 1998

The Company registered another year of strong earnings growth and
margin improvement through a combination of revenue gains and cost containment
measures.

Revenues for the year increased 9% to $508.4 million reflecting
improvement in all the Company's core businesses. Professional / trade
publishing worldwide revenues advanced 14% over the prior year driven by volume
growth attributable to a strong frontlist and backlist as well as increased
sales through online accounts. Scientific, technical and medical publishing
worldwide revenues increased 7% primarily related to the journal publishing
programs. Worldwide educational revenues advanced 6%, led by an 8% increase in
the domestic college division as a result of market share gains attributable to
a strong frontlist.

Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was 34.2% in 1999 compared
with 35.1% in the prior year, primarily reflecting lower paper, printing and
binding costs.

Operating and administrative expenses increased 4.5% over the prior
year. Expenses as a percentage of revenues declined to 51.4%, compared with
53.5% in the prior year, as the rate of growth in expenses was contained at less
than the revenue growth rate.

Operating income increased 41% over the prior year, excluding the
unusual items pre-tax gain in the prior year of $16.9 million. The operating
income margin reached 12.5% compared with 9.7% in the prior year.

Interest income increased by $1.9 million due to higher cash balances
compared with the prior year.

The effective tax rate was 36% compared with 37% in the prior year.

Net income increased 48% to 39.7 million, excluding the unusual items
net gain of $9.7 million after taxes in the prior year.

Results of Operations:
Fiscal 1998 Compared to Fiscal 1997

The Company continued to grow and strengthen its core businesses. In
fiscal 1998, the Company sold its domestic law publishing program for $26.5
million, and reinvested the proceeds by acquiring the publishing assets of Van
Nostrand Reinhold (VNR) for $28.5 million in cash. The domestic law program had
limited potential for the Company. VNR reinforced the Company's strong position
in four core subject areas: architecture / design, environmental / industrial
science, culinary arts / hospitality, and business technology.

Fiscal 1998 income includes unusual items amounting to a pre-tax gain
of $16.9 million, or $9.7 million after taxes, equal to $0.14 per diluted share,
relating to the gain on the sale of the domestic law publishing program, net of
a write-down of certain intangible assets and other items.

Revenues increased 8% over the prior year to $467.1 million reflecting
improvement in all of the Company's core businesses. Worldwide revenue increases
over the prior year included 9% for scientific, technical, and medical
publishing; 8% for professional/trade publishing; and 6% for educational
publishing, led by the domestic college division, which increased 9%. The strong
U.S. dollar depressed revenues in some of the Company's overseas markets.

Cost of sales as a percentage of revenues was 35.1% in 1998 compared
with 35.9% in the prior year primarily reflecting lower inventory obsolescence
provisions in the current year.

Operating and administrative expenses increased 6.9% over the prior
year. Expenses as a percentage of revenues declined to 53.5%, compared with
54.1% in the prior year, as the rate of growth in expenses was contained at less
than the revenue growth rate.

Operating income excluding the unusual items mentioned above increased
30% over the prior year to $45.3 million. Operating income margins increased to
9.7% of revenue from 8.1% in the prior year, primarily due to the effects of the
higher revenue base and lower operating expenses as a percentage of revenues.
Operating income was adversely affected by weakness in the Company's Asian
markets due to the economic downturn in that region.

Interest expense increased by $1.7 million reflecting a full year of
financing costs related to VCH, which was acquired during fiscal 1997. Interest
income increased by $1.6 million primarily as a result of higher cash balances
compared with the prior year.


The effective tax rate was 37.0% compared with 34.1% in the prior year
primarily reflecting the higher incremental tax rate on the unusual items gain.

Net income, excluding the unusual items net gain of $9.7 million after
taxes, increased 32% to $26.9 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's cash and cash equivalents balance was $149.0 million at
the end of fiscal 1999, compared with $127.4 million at the end of the prior
year. Cash provided by operating activities was $117.9 million in fiscal 1999,
an increase of $13.8 million compared with the prior year.

The Company's operating cash flow is strongly affected by the
seasonality of its domestic college business and receipts from its journal
subscriptions. Receipts from journal subscriptions occur primarily during
November and December from companies commonly referred to as independent
subscription agents. These companies facilitate the journal ordering process by
consolidating the subscription orders/billings of each subscriber with various
publishers. Monies are collected in advance from subscribers by the subscription
agents and are remitted to the Company, generally prior to the commencement of
the subscriptions. Although at fiscal year-end, the Company had minimal credit
risk exposure to these agents, future calendar year subscription receipts from
these agents are highly dependent on their financial position and liquidity.
Subscription agents account for approximately 28% of total consolidated revenues
and no one agent accounts for more than 6% of total consolidated revenues.

Sales to the domestic college market tend to be concentrated in June
through August, and again in November through January. The Company normally
requires increased funds for working capital from the beginning of the fiscal
year into September. Subject to variations that may be caused by fluctuations in
inventory accumulation or in patterns of customer payments, the Company's normal
operating cash flow is not expected to vary materially in the near term.

To finance its short-term seasonal working capital requirements and
its growth opportunities, the Company has adequate cash and cash equivalents
available, as well as both domestic and foreign short-term lines of credit, as
more fully described in the note to the consolidated financial statements
entitled "Notes Payable and Debt."

The capital expenditures of the Company consist primarily of
investments in product development and property and equipment. Capital
expenditures for fiscal 2000 are expected to increase approximately 20% over
1999, primarily representing investments in product development, including
electronic media products, and computer equipment upgrades to support the higher
volume of business to ensure efficient, quality-driven customer service. These
investments will be funded primarily from internal cash generation or from the
liquidation of cash equivalents.

Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk primarily related to interest
rates and foreign exchange. It is the Company's policy to monitor these
exposures and to use derivative financial investments from time to time to
reduce fluctuations in earnings and cash flows when it is deemed appropriate to
do so. The Company does not use derivative financial investments for trading or
speculative purposes.

Interest Rates

The Company had a $125 million variable rate term loan outstanding at
April 30, 1999 and 1998, which approximated fair value. The Company did not use
any derivative financial investments to manage this exposure. A hypothetical 10%
adverse change in interest rates for this variable rate debt would negatively
affect net income and cash flow by approximately $.5 million.

Foreign Exchange Rates

The Company is exposed to foreign exchange movements primarily in
European, Asian, Canadian and Australian currencies. Consequently, the Company,
from time to time, enters into forward exchange contracts as a hedge against its
overseas subsidiaries' foreign currency asset, liability, commitment, and
anticipated transaction exposures, including intercompany purchases. There were
no open foreign exchange contracts at April 30, 1999 or 1998.

Effects of Inflation and Cost Increases

Although the impact of inflation is somewhat minimized as paper prices
continued to decline during fiscal 1999 and the business does not require a high
level of investment in property and equipment, the Company, from time to time,
does experience cost increases reflecting, in part, general inflationary
factors. To mitigate the effects of cost increases, the Company has taken a
number of initiatives including various steps to lower overall production and
manufacturing costs including substitution of paper grades. In addition, selling
prices have been selectively increased as competitive conditions permit. The
Company anticipates that it will be able to continue this approach in the
future.

Year 2000 Issues

The Company has essentially completed the review of its systems and
products to determine the extent and impact of the year 2000 issues. Many of the
systems are new and were designed to accommodate the year 2000 issue when
originally installed. The Company is well along in the process of implementing
the needed changes, and systems testing has begun. The Company currently
anticipates substantially completing corrective measures and testing of its
systems and products by September 30, 1999. The total cost to remedy the
situation is currently estimated to be approximately $2.5 million, of which $2.0
million has been expended to date. Subsequent to the fiscal year-end, the
Company acquired the Jossey-Bass publishing company and is currently in the
process of evaluating the status of the year 2000 remediation efforts at that
company.

The Company has communicated with its customers and suppliers and is
in the process of assessing how they intend to resolve their year 2000 issues.
The Company at this time is not able to form an opinion as to whether its
customers or suppliers will be able to resolve their year 2000 issues in a
satisfactory and timely manner, or the magnitude of the adverse impact it would
have on the Company's operations, if they fail to do so.

Euro Conversion Issues

Effective January 1, 1999, eleven member countries of the European
union established fixed conversion rates between their existing legal
currencies, the Euro, and adopted the Euro as their common legal currency
beginning January 1, 2002.

The Company is in the process of assessing the impact that the
conversion to the Euro will have on its operations and the modifications that
will be required to its systems. The Company believes that the Euro conversion
should not have a material effect on its operations.

* * * * *

The anticipated costs and timing of resolving the year 2000 and Euro
issues are based on numerous assumptions and estimates relating to future events
including the continued availability and cost of the personnel required to
modify the systems, the timely resolution of the third party customer and
supplier interface issues, and other similar uncertainties. The Company is in
the process of developing contingency plans in the event remediation measures
will not be completed on a timely basis.

New Accounting Standards

In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position ("SOP") 98-1, "Accounting for the Cost of Computer
Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use", which requires that certain
costs incurred in developing or obtaining internal use software be capitalized
and amortized over the useful life of the software. The Company will be required
to adopt SOP 98-1 beginning next fiscal year and is evaluating the effect this
will have on its consolidated financial statements. Currently, the Company
expenses most of these costs as incurred. The Financial Accounting Standards
Board issued SFAS No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities", which specifies the accounting and disclosure requirements for such
instruments, and is effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning on May 1,
2001. It is anticipated that the adoption of this new accounting standard will
not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements of the
Company.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This report contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the
Company's operations, performance and financial condition. Reliance should not
be placed on forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially
from those in any forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking
statements are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are
inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond
the control of the Company, and are subject to change based on many important
factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) the pace, acceptance,
and level of investment in emerging new electronic technologies and products;
(ii) subscriber renewal rates for the Company's journals; (iii) the
consolidation of the retail book trade market; (iv) the seasonal nature of the
Company's educational business and the impact of the used book market; (v) the
ability of the Company and its customers and suppliers to satisfactorily resolve
the year 2000 and Euro issues in a timely manner; (vi) worldwide economic and
political conditions; and (vii) other factors detailed from time to time in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements
to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.



Results by Quarter (Unaudited)


John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Dollars in thousands except per share data

1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Revenues
First quarter $ 122,091 $ 112,086
Second quarter 123,640 115,886
Third quarter 137,976 124,350
Fourth quarter 124,728 114,759
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year $ 508,435 $ 467,081
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Operating Income
First quarter $ 17,066 $ 13,711
Second quarter 15,306 10,326
Third quarter 21,282 31,806 (a)
Fourth quarter 10,000 6,313
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year $ 63,654 $ 62,156 (a)
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Net Income
First quarter $ 10,564 $ 8,082
Second quarter 9,275 5,639
Third quarter 13,358 18,638 (a)
Fourth quarter 6,512 4,229
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year $ 39,709 $ 36,588 (a)
- -----------------------------------------------------------


Income Per Share Diluted Basic Diluted Basic
- ---------------------------------------------------------------

First quarter $.17 $.16 $.12 $.13
Second quarter .14 .15 .09 .09
Third quarter .20 .21 .28 (a) .30 (a)
Fourth quarter .10 .11 .06 .07
Fiscal year .60 .63 .55 (a) .58 (a)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------


(a) Fiscal 1998 includes unusual items amounting to a pretax gain of $16,893 or
$9,713 after tax, equal to $.14 per diluted share ($.15 per basic share)
relating to the gain on the sale of the domestic law publishing program,
net of a write-down of certain intangible assets and other items.



Quarterly Share Prices, Dividends and Related Stockholder Matters

The Company's Class A and Class B shares are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbols JWA and JWB, respectively. Dividends per share
and the market price range by fiscal quarter for the past two fiscal years were
as follows:

Class A Common Stock Class B Common Stock
---------------------- ----------------------
Market Price Market Price
Divi- --------------- Divi- --------------
dends High Low dends High Low
-------------------------------------------------------------
1999
First quarter $.0319 $16.06 $13.31 $.0281 $16.05$13.33
Second quarter .0319 18.28 14.07 .0281 18.44 14.25
Third quarter .0319 24.16 16.63 .0281 24.88 17.66
Fourth quarter .0319 23.47 19.25 .0281 23.41 19.31
-------------------------------------------------------------
1998
First quarter $.0281 $8.63 $7.47 $.0250 $8.75 $7.50
Second quarter .0281 11.10 7.88 .0250 11.06 7.91
Third quarter .0281 14.25 11.02 .0250 14.10 11.13
Fourth quarter .0281 14.00 12.33 .0250 14.00 12.27

As of April 30, 1999, the approximate number of holders of the
Company's Class A and Class B Common Stock were 1,262 and 184, respectively,
based on the holders of record and other information available to the Company.

The Company's credit agreement contains certain restrictive covenants
related to the payment of dividends and share repurchases. Under the most
restrictive covenant, approximately $58 million was available for such
restricted payments. Subject to the foregoing, the Board of Directors considers
quarterly the payment of cash dividends based upon its review of earnings, the
financial position of the Company, and other relevant factors.



Selected Financial Data




John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Dollars in thousands except per share data

For the years ended April 30
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Revenues $508,435 $467,081 $431,974 $362,704 $331,091
Operating Income 63,654 62,156 (a) 34,797 32,955 26,879
Net Income 39,709 36,588 (a) 20,340 24,680 (b) 18,311
Working Capital 60,870 59,257 39,783 31,515 11,241
Total Assets 528,552 506,914 457,944 284,501 247,481
Long-Term Debt 125,000 125,000 125,000 -- --
Shareholders' Equity 162,212 160,751 128,983 117,982 98,832
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Share Data
Income Per Share
Diluted .60 .55 (a) .31 .37 (b) .28
Basic .63 .58 (a) .32 .39 (b) .29


Cash Dividends
Class A Common .1275 .11 .1000 .08 .0775
Class B Common .1125 .10 .0875 .07 .0688
Book Value-End of Year 2.60 2.51 2.03 1.83 1.55
- ----------------------------------------


(a) Fiscal 1998 includes unusual items amounting to a pretax gain of $16,893 or
$9,713 after tax, equal to $.14 per diluted share ($.15 per basic share)
relating to the gain on the sale of the domestic law publishing program,
net of a write-down of certain intangible assets and other items. Excluding
the unusual items, operating income would have been $45,263 and net income
would have been $26,875, or $.41 per diluted share and $.43 per basic
share.

(b) Fiscal 1996 net income includes interest income after taxes of $2.6
million, or $.04 per diluted and basic share, received on the favorable
resolution of amended tax return claims.



Schedule II

JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED APRIL 30, 1999, 1998 AND 1997

(Dollars in Thousands)




Additions
--------------------------
Balance at Charged to Deductions Balance at
Beginning Cost & From From End of
Description of Period Expenses Acquisitions Reserves Period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Year Ended April 30, 1999
Allowance for sales returns(1) $33,411 $34,213 $ -- $33,411 $34,213
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 8,165 $ 2,053 $ -- $ 2,607(2) $ 7,611

Year Ended April 30, 1998
Allowance for sales returns(1) $27,099 $32,945 $ -- $26,633 $33,411
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 7,414 $ 3,445 $ -- $ 2,694(2) $ 8,165

Year Ended April 30, 1997
Allowance for sales returns(1) $20,786 $26,396 $ 357 $20,440 $27,099
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 6,049 $ 2,591 $ 1,548 $ 2,774(2) $ 7,414


(1) Allowance for sales returns represents anticipated returns net of
inventory and royalty costs.

(2) Accounts written off, less recoveries.



SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.
------------------------------------
(Company)


By: /s/ William J. Pesce
-----------------------------------
William J. Pesce
President and Chief Executive
Officer

By: /s/ Robert D. Wilder
-----------------------------------
Robert D. Wilder
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial & Support
Operations Officer

By: /s/ Peter W. Clifford
-----------------------------------
Peter W. Clifford
Senior Vice President, Finance
Corporate Controller
& Chief Accounting Officer

Dated: June 24, 1999



Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons constituting directors of
the Company on June 24, 1999.


/s/ Warren J. Baker /s/ William J. Pesce
- --------------------------- ---------------------------
Warren J. Baker William J. Pesce


s/ H. Allen Fernald /s/ William R. Sutherland
- --------------------------- ---------------------------
H. Allen Fernald William R. Sutherland



- --------------------------- ----------------------------
Gary J. Fernandes Thomas M. Taylor


/s/ Larry Franklin /s/ Bradford Wiley II
- --------------------------- ----------------------------
Larry Franklin Bradford Wiley II


/s/ Henry A. McKinnell, Jr. /s/ Peter Booth Wiley
- --------------------------- ----------------------------
Henry A. McKinnell, Jr. Peter Booth Wiley