Springer makes move for T&F's parent Informa

STM group Springer has made an approach for Taylor & Francis' parent Informa. The move is likely to have been made by Springer's principal shareholders the private equity groups Cinven and Candover.

Informa confirmed the approach today saying that the rival group has made a "highly preliminary approach . . . regarding a possible offer for the entire share capital of the company". It added: "Discussions are at an extremely early stage and, consequently, there can be no certainty that an offer will be made."

Informa said that it had confirmed the approach after recent press speculation . It added that a further announcement would be made in due course.

Springer was created in 2003 by the merger of BertelsmannSpringer and Kluwer Academic Publishers, which the private equity backers bought for a total sum of £1.6bn. The London-based venture capital backers acquired the two companies with a view to creating a force to rival Reed Elsevier , the world's largest STM publisher.

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