3 December 2007. Stamford, CT, December 3, 2007 -- Cengage Learning today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Houghton Mifflin Company, under which Cengage Learning will acquire the assets of the Houghton Mifflin College Division (HM College) for $750 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2008 upon satisfaction of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Cengage Learning, formerly Thomson Learning, is one of the leading providers of print and digital instructional and reference materials for the higher education and library reference markets. The addition of the HM College assets will significantly expand and complement the range of textbooks, study guides, custom publications and digital solutions that Cengage Learning provides to professors and students in two- and four-year colleges and universities.
The transaction will allow Houghton Mifflin to focus on its core K-12 educational publishing business, which will be the industry leader when it completes the recently announced definitive agreement to acquire the Harcourt Education, Harcourt Trade and Greenwood-Heinemann divisions of Reed-Elsevier.
Under a long-term agreement that will be executed at closing of the transaction, Cengage and Houghton Mifflin will cooperate to expand the distribution of Cengage's college textbooks and related materials into the U.S. high school market, with particular emphasis on Advanced Placement and Honors programs.
"We're very pleased to acquire the well-respected assets of HM College, which are highly complementary to our existing business," said Ronald Dunn, President and CEO of Cengage Learning. "We look forward to combining the people, products and publishing programs of HM College and Cengage Learning to expand and enhance our range of services for students, instructors and institutions in the higher education market."
Debt financing for the transaction will be in the form of additional term loans under Cengage Learning's existing credit agreement, which is underwritten by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc. Apax Partners and OMERS Capital Partners will make an additional equity investment as part of the financing for the transaction. Apax Partners, a global private equity firm with over $35 billion under management, and OMERS Capital Partners acquired Cengage Learning from The Thomson Corporation in July 2007.
Cengage Learning was advised by Evercore Group, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
About Cengage Learning
Cengage Learning, formerly Thomson Learning, delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, reference centers, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. These solutions are delivered through specialized content, applications and services that foster academic excellence and professional development, as well as provide measurable learning outcomes to its customers. Cengage Learning's existing company and imprint brands, including Heinle, Gale, Wadsworth, Delmar Learning, Brooks/Cole and South-Western, among others. For more information on Cengage Learning please visit www.cengage.com.
About Apax Partners
Apax Partners (www.apax.com) is one of the world's leading private equity investment groups. It operates across the United States, Europe and Asia and has more than 30 years of investing experience. Funds under the advice of Apax Partners total in excess of $35 billion around the world. These Funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. Apax Partners Funds invest in companies across its global sectors of Tech & Telecom, Retail & Consumer, Media, Healthcare and Financial & Business Services.
Over the past ten years, Apax has been one of the most active investors in media and communications with over $5.8 billion of equity invested. Recent investments include TDC ($17.6 billion), Thomson Learning ($7.8 billion), Intelsat ($5.0 billion), CME ($3.0 billion), Yell Group ($3.0 billion), Trader Media Group ($2.7 billion), VNU World Directories ($2.6 billion) and Hit Entertainment ($1.0 billion).
About OMERS Capital Partners
OMERS Capital Partners is the entity responsible for the private equity investments of OMERS Administration Corporation ("OMERS"). OMERS is one of Canada's largest pension plans, with more than $48 billion in assets invested around the globe in publicly-traded investments, real estate, infrastructure and private equity. Today, OMERS has in excess of $3 billion invested in private equity investments. To learn more about OMERS, visit www.omers.com.
About Houghton Mifflin
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company is one of the leading educational publishers in the United States, with more than $1.4 billion in sales. The company publishes a comprehensive set of educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for elementary and secondary schools and colleges. The company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers. In 2006, Houghton Mifflin merged with Riverdeep, bringing together one of the most respected print publishers with the leader in interactive courseware. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin, visit www.hmco.com.
