Pearson In Future Sell-Off Rumours

Speculation is currently rife that Pearson is looking to sell its Future Publishing consumer magazine arm.

Although Pearson at present is not commenting on the rumours, it is believed that the group has been in informal discussion with a number of potential buyers. One of these is said to be Cinven, the venture capitalist group which aided the management buyout of IPC magazines (subscribers see IPC Magazines Gains Independence). Some quarters suggest that Nick Alexander, head of Pearson New Entertainment, could head up a management buyout team.

In the past Pearson has made no secret of the fact that it wishes to concentrate its operations on global businesses in education, information and entertainment.

The auction of Future could raise around £150 million – a good return on the £52m which Pearson paid for it in 1994 (subscribers see Pearson To Buy Future Publishing).

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Pearson: 0171 411 2000