Library Technology Guides

Clarivate acquires Rowan TELS to enhance support for patent practitioners. Clarivate, a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, announced it has acquired Rowan TELS Corp. through a subsidiary. Rowan TELS Corp. is the provider of Rowan Patents – an integrated patent drafting and prosecution solution specially designed for patent practitioners to establish and protect patents more effectively. Clarivate enables organizations worldwide to confidently create, manage and protect critical intellectual property assets with solutions for the entire IP lifecycle. This acquisition will enable Clarivate to extend its workflow automation solutions beyond its market-leading IP management and intelligence capabilities, delivering new comprehensive and integrated solutions to support patent preparation, filing and prosecution. It also positions Clarivate to provide patent practitioners in this emerging market with automation and responsible artificial intelligence-enabled solutions that facilitate the efficient delivery of high-quality patent applications. [Full Announcement].

RBmedia to acquire Dreamscape Media. RBmedia, a premier global audiobook publisher, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Dreamscape Media, an award-winning publisher of audiobooks, which includes Dreamscape Publishing and Dreamscape Select. Dreamscape Publishing acquires, produces, and distributes audiobooks in over 60 countries. Dreamscape Select offers audiobook support services to self-published authors. [Full Announcement].

OCLC acquires firm to help higher education institutions with software decisions and implementations. OCLC has acquired JJH Consulting, a firm that specializes in advising institutions of higher education on how to maximize the value of their enterprise resource planning business processes and the implementation of Workday enterprise systems and software. The acquisition will expand OCLC's service profile and enable the organization to work with higher education institutions to help determine the best use of systems and services to fit their specific needs. Workday is a leading cloud-based financial, human capital management, and student information system that engages with external firms to advise, implement, and optimize their innovative systems. JJH Consulting has been a Workday Advisory Partner since 2018. OCLC has used Workday since 2015. [Full Announcement].

Acquisition of Rowman & Littlefield's academic publishing business. Bloomsbury Publishing, the leading independent publisher, announced the acquisition of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group's academic publishing business. It is the biggest acquisition by Bloomsbury to date, and significantly accelerates and strengthens Bloomsbury's academic publishing in North America and Bloomsbury Digital Resources. The transaction is structured as a sale and purchase agreement for the acquisition of certain assets which make up the academic publishing business of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, the leading independent US trade and academic publisher. The consideration is $83m, of which $76m has been satisfied in cash on completion and up to $7m, in escrow, will be satisfied in cash post completion. [Full Announcement].

GXO completes acquisition of Wincanton. GXO Logistics, the world's largest pure-play contract logistics provider, announced that, effective , it has completed its acquisition of Wincanton plc. All conditions of the acquisition have been met and GXO is now the sole shareholder of Wincanton. On May 13, 2024, Wincanton shareholders will be sent consideration of 605 pence for each Wincanton share held by those shareholders at the scheme record time (6:00 p.m. BST on 26 April 2024), excluding shares held by or on behalf of GXO or held in treasury. As is customary, GXO and Wincanton will continue to be run independently until the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has completed its review. [Full Announcement].

Clarivate acquires Global QMS, Inc., expanding Life Sciences and Healthcare Segment into new markets. Clarivate, a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, announced that it has acquired Global QMS, Inc., known as Global Q, a provider of cloud-based solutions that enable life sciences clients to automate regulatory reporting and compliance management. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Global Q supports leading pharma, medtech and biotech companies by providing comprehensive access to linked and standardized workflow-ready data via its SaaS platform, Optiqs360 Digital. The platform includes MediGPT - WorkCenter™ and MediGPT - IntelliWriter™, solutions that provide clients with interconnected data visibility and common user interfaces, across internal and external sources of record. The tools support the complex workflows and reporting needs of clinical, regulatory, product lifecycle and quality management professionals, significantly streamlining annual product reviews, medical device reports and supply chain insights. [Full Announcement].

IXL Learning acquires Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com. IXL Learning, developer of personalized learning products used by millions of people globally, is excited to announce the acquisition of Dictionary.com, the premier online English-language dictionary, as well as Thesaurus.com, home to the world's largest collection of synonyms and antonyms. From mastering vocabulary to unraveling the origins of words, more than 40 million people rely on Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com each month to hone their literacy skills. The platforms process more than 1.8 billion word searches annually, making them go-to destinations for reliable word learning resources. The acquisitions strengthen IXL Learning's portfolio of renowned language and literacy products, which includes Rosetta Stone, IXL English Language Arts, Vocabulary.com, SpanishDictionary.com, and ingles.com. [Full Announcement].

cloudLibrary is now part of OCLC. OCLC has acquired cloudLibrary, a platform that offers access to a wide variety of digital content through libraries. The acquisition will help OCLC support public libraries in their efforts to successfully manage accelerated shifts to digital collections. Nearly 500 libraries in 20 countries rely on cloudLibrary to provide access to a rich collection of digital content including millions of ebooks and audio books as well as tens of thousands of magazines, digital newspapers, digital comics, and streaming media services in more than 50 languages. Libraries make these collections available to their communities through cloudLibrary's top-rated mobile app while a web portal makes it easy for library staff to manage their subscriptions. [Full Announcement].

Clarivate acquires AI start up to accelerate strategy and business development success for Life Sciences and Healthcare clients. Clarivate announced an agreement to acquire the substantial majority of assets of MotionHall, a Silicon Valley technology start-up company serving the life sciences with industry vertical artificial intelligence solutions. The asset purchase serves as a key component of the Clarivate Life Sciences & Healthcare strategy to deliver transformative intelligence through the application of generative AI and proprietary industry vertical AI solutions. Clarivate provides people and organizations with transformative intelligence they can trust, propelling human ingenuity into our world's greatest [Full Announcement].

Scholastic to Invest in 9 Story Media Group: expanding opportunities for production and global licensing of Scholastic IP. Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to invest in 9 Story Media Group. Through the investment, Scholastic will acquire 100% of the economic interest in and a minority of voting rights in 9 Story Media Group, a leading independent creator, producer and distributor of premium children's content, for approximately USD $186 million, subject to customary closing adjustments. [Full Announcement].

Innovative open research Publisher PeerJ joins Taylor & Francis. Leading research publisher Taylor & Francis has announced the addition of PeerJ, a pioneer in broad-scope open access journals. PeerJ is best known for its multidisciplinary flagship title PeerJ Life & Environment serving the Biological, Medical and Environmental Sciences and PeerJ Computer Science (covering all areas of computer science, including AI, quantum, and robotics). In addition, PeerJ offers five titles in the Chemical Sciences, meaning that in total Taylor & Francis will welcome seven new journals to its open research program. [Full Announcement].

Wincanton acquires Invar to accelerate robotics and automation transformation. Wincanton has agreed to acquire Invar Group Limited (Invar), a UK-based specialist in warehouse execution software, automation and controls. Founded in 2005, Invar is a private company specialising in the integration of automated warehouse solutions powered by its proprietary software, the Invar Warehousing Software. Wincanton has collaborated with Invar on several warehouse automation projects over recent years. The incumbent team will continue to run the newly acquired business which will remain as a stand-alone business within the Wincanton Group. [Full Announcement].

Thomson Reuters successful acquisition of Pagero paves the way for significant growth opportunities. Thomson Reuters Corporation previously announced the successful outcome of its recommended public offer for Pagero Group for a purchase price of approx. USD 800 million / SEK 8.1 billion. The acquisition marks the sixth deal closed by Thomson Reuters since January 1, 2023, with a total acquisition value of approximately $2.1 billion, contributing to a stronger, strategically aligned portfolio with exciting growth prospects. Pagero is a global leader in e-invoicing and indirect tax solutions, which it delivers through its Smart Business Network. The secure network connects customers to suppliers, customers and authorities regardless of the system they use - linking 90,000 customers to a platform reaching 14 million companies. This enables an automated, secure, and compliant exchange of invoices and other documents that seamlessly integrates with customers' ERP systems. [Full Announcement].

Thomson Reuters Successful Acquisition of Pagero Paves the Way for Significant Growth Opportunities. Thomson Reuters, a global content and technology company, announced the successful outcome of its recommended public offer for Pagero Group, for a purchase price of approx. USD 800 million / SEK 8.1 billion. The acquisition marks the sixth deal closed by Thomson Reuters since January 1, 2023, with a total acquisition value of approximately $2.1 billion, contributing to a stronger, strategically aligned portfolio with exciting growth prospects. Pagero is a global leader in e-invoicing and indirect tax solutions, which it delivers through its Smart Business Network. The secure network connects customers to suppliers, customers and authorities regardless of the system they use - linking 90,000 customers to a platform reaching 14 million companies. [Full Announcement].

Follett School Solutions expands Its functionality with Livingtree acquisition. Follett School Solutions, the leading provider of K-12 educational technology solutions, announced it has acquired Livingtree, an all-in-one fundraising management platform. The acquisition, which closed in December 2023, brings together two partners experienced in providing exceptional support to learning communities. [Full Announcement].

Academic Partnerships completes acquisition of Wiley University Services. Academic Partnerships, a company that assists primarily regional public universities in expanding access and impact by supporting their online programs, today announced that it has successfully completed its acquisition of Wiley University Services, a line of business previously owned by Wiley. The combined company will support over 125 colleges and universities in 40 U.S. states and internationally. [Full Announcement].

Penguin Random House acquires independent publisher and self-help space leader Hay House. Penguin Random House has acquired independent book publisher Hay House, a leader in the self-help, health and wellness space. The acquisition was announced today by Nihar Malaviya, CEO, Penguin Random House, and Reid Tracy, CEO, Hay House. Terms were not disclosed. [Full Announcement].

Nonprofit Annual Reviews Becomes Strategic Partner. Annual Reviews has become Skilltype's newest strategic partner through a minority investment. Similarly to Skilltype's other investors, Annual Reviews supports the development and training of information professionals. This prepares them for an exciting and fulfilling future. [Full Announcement].

Biomedical Publisher Future Science Group joins Taylor & Francis. Taylor & Francis announced the addition of Future Science Group, publisher of medical, biotechnological and scientific research. As well as bringing a portfolio of cutting-edge journals and digital hubs, FSG's leading publishing solutions program will enable Taylor & Francis to offer researchers and medical communication planners a host of additional services. Taylor & Francis now becomes the fourth largest publisher of pharma-funded research, with the addition of 32 peer-reviewed FSG journals and five digital hubs. These complement the existing range of over 340 Taylor & Francis medical and healthcare journals, including the Expert Collection, which is the world's largest series of review journals in research, development and clinical medicine. [Full Announcement].

Research Solutions announces acquisition of scite. Research Solutions, a trusted partner providing cloud-based workflow solutions to accelerate research for R&D-driven organizations, announced their acquisition of scite, an award-winning search and discovery platform that leverages AI to increase the discoverability and evaluation of research. The acquisition of scite further enhances Research Solutions' product offerings and provides cross-selling opportunities to scite's consistently growing B2C customer base of approximately 21,000 active subscribers, as well as its diverse B2B customer base of corporate entities, leading academic institutions, and government agencies. [Full Announcement].