Netherlands-based global information services company Wolters Kluwer has completed the sale of its pharma-related marketing & publishing services business to Springer Science+Business Media (Springer).

J. Sagar Associates advised on the sale of the marketing & publishing services unit of Wolters Kluwer (India) with a team led by Partner Sajai Singh along with Senior Associates Seema Sukumar and Ranganath C and Associates Ankita Ray and Garima Jhunjhunwala.

Baker & McKenzie acted as Global Counsel for Wolters Kluwer with a team led by Partner Helen Mantel.

Khaitan & Co advised Springer on the Indian leg of the acquisition with a team led by Partner Rabindra Jhunjhunwala.

According to VCCircle, the deal is part of a global transaction with Springer for the unit, struck last November, and comprises around 35 per cent of the company’s pharma-related assets (in terms of revenue) including the leading brands Adis and inScienceCommunications.

Wolters’ marketing & publishing services division is a global provider of strategic marketing, publishing and business intelligence products and services. It caters to the pharmaceutical industry, as well as medical libraries and academic & research institutions. Wolters Kluwer currently employs around 19,000 people worldwide and operates in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific and Latin America.

The proceeds of the global stake sale would be used for general corporate purposes, such as debt reduction in line with the company’s stated objectives and fresh investments in the business.

Springer Science+Business Media is a global scientific publisher, delivering content through innovative information products and services. In the science, technology and medicine (STM) sector, the group publishes around 2,000 journals and more than 7,000 new books a year, besides producing the largest STM eBook collection worldwide. Springer has operations in about 20 countries in Europe, the USA, and Asia, and more than 5,500 employees.

According to Khaitan & Co, this is a significant deal involving two global publishing houses resulting in Springer’s greater hold in the scientific and technical journal market in India.

Wolters Kluwer Health has recently acquired Mumbai-based Medknow Publications, a leading scientific, technical & medical (STM) journal publisher.

Trilegal advised Wolters Kluwer while ANS Law Associates advised Medknow.

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