M&A Deal Summary

Scholastic Acquires Grolier

On April 18, 2000, Scholastic acquired publishing company Grolier from Lagardere for 400M USD

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Scholastic’s 1st transaction in the Publishing sector.
  • This is Scholastic’s largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Scholastic’s 3rd transaction in the United States.
  • This is Scholastic’s 1st transaction in Connecticut.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2000-04-18
Target Grolier
Sector Publishing
Buyer(s) Scholastic
Sellers(s) Lagardere
Deal Type Divestiture
Deal Value 400M USD

Target

Grolier

Danbury, Connecticut, United States
Grolier, Inc. has three principal areas of operation a U.S. direct mail-to-home and e-commerce book clubs for children through age 5, the on-line and print publisher of children's reference products (including major encyclopedias) sold primarily to U.S. school libraries, and significant international operations in the United Kingdom, Canada and Southeast Asia. Grolier also publishes trade books under the Orchard Books, Children's Press and Franklin Watts imprints, sold both to libraries and the trade.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Scholastic

New York, New York, United States
Category Company
Founded 1920
Sector Publishing
Employees4,770
Revenue 1.6B USD (2024)
DESCRIPTION

Scholastic is a publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children's media. Scholastic creates quality books and ebooks, print and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multi-media and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. Scholastic was founded in 1920 and is based in New York City.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 4 of 12
Sector (Publishing) 1 of 4
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 3
State (Connecticut) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 3 of 10
Year (2000) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 3
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
1997-01-11 Red House Books

United Kingdom

Red House Books Ltd. is a children's book distributor and book club operator.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2001-03-26 Soup2Nuts

Watertown,, Massachusetts, United States

Soup2Nuts, Inc. is a digital animation studio dedicated to the production of comedy-driven animated series, shorts and branding. Best known for smart humor, and unique animated styles, Soup2Nuts has created animated programming for major television and cable networks for more than fifteen years.

Buy -

Seller(S) 1

SELLER

Lagardere

Paris, France
Category Company
Founded 1826
Sector Media
Employees24,173
Revenue 8.1B EUR (2023)
DESCRIPTION

Lagardere is a diversified media group which operates through four divisions. These include Lagardere Publishing, Lagardere Services, Lagardere Active, and Lagardere Unlimited. Lagardere was founded in 1826 and is based in Paris, France.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 11
Sector (Publishing) 1 of 3
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 11
State (Connecticut) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 1 of 1
Year (2000) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 2 of 7
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2006-02-01 Time Warner Book Group

United Kingdom

Time Warner Book Group is a U.S. book publisher.

Buy $538M
Mergr

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Company

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