Springer Science & Business to Merge with Macmillan Science & Education

In Global Trade Talk by Hannah Johnson

SpringerBy Hannah Johnson

Springer Science and Business Media will merge with the majority of Holtzbrinck-owned Macmillan Science and Education to form a global publishing group with annual sales of 1.5 billion euros and 13,000 employees.

Holtzbrinck and BC Partners (a private equity firm which owns Springer Science and Business Media) will jointly own and operate the new publishing group, with Holtzbrinck retaining a 53% controlling share.

macmillan science and educationThe merger will include the entire Springer Science and Business media portfolio, along with a majority of the businesses operating under Macmillan Science and Education (including the Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, and the global businesses of Macmillan Education).

“By sharing the same vision, by combining creativity and innovation, and by enlarging scale, the merger of these highly prestigious publishing houses will meet the desires and expectations of our customers with diligence, care and speed,” said Stefan von Holtzbrinck, CEO of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group.

Ewald Walgenback, Managing Partner of BC Partners added that “A platform is being created that will enrich the world of scientific research and which will be able to serve all relevant markets internationally.”

The deal is subject to approval by competition authorities, and is expected to close in the first half of 2015.

About the Author

Hannah Johnson

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Hannah Johnson is the publisher of international book industry magazine Publishing Perspectives, which provides daily information and news about book markets around the world. In addition to building partnerships with international cultural and trade organizations, she works with the Frankfurt Book Fair to organize and support a number of its overseas initiatives. Hannah has also worked as the managing editor for an online media company, The Hooch Life, focused on craft distillers and cocktail experts. Prior to that, she worked as a project manager for the Frankfurt Book Fair’s New York office, managing various business and marketing activities.