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Bidders line up for Thomson Learning

19.04.07

The FT reports a large group of private equity firms are lining up to bid for Thomson's learning division, which it put up for sale early this year, according to sources familiar with the situation. "Final bids are due sometime in late April to early May. Pearson would only be interested in acquiring a small part of Thomson’s learning division, the source added. Likewise, Bertelsmann’s role in the auction is a small one, according to the same source."

"The bidders include a consortium made up of Bain Capital Management, Thomas H. Lee Partners, the Blackstone Group along with Bertelsmann, the privately-owned German media company; a second bidding group is made up of Providence Equity Partners, which is possibly teaming with one other investor, and has the learning division’s management’s on its side, according to the sources. The Carlyle Group and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. are bidding alone, the sources said. Providence’s partners in the bid could not be confirmed, but one of the sources said it is teaming up with Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, while another source said it is teaming up with Pearson."

  

FT

education Thomson Learning

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