31 December 2021
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc has announced today that it has completed the purchase of ABC-CLIO LLC..
ABC-CLIO is an established academic publisher of reference, nonfiction, online curriculum and professional development materials in both print and digital formats for schools, academic libraries and public libraries, primarily in the USA. Founded in 1955, ABC-CLIO is based in Santa Barbara, California. ABC-CLIO has four imprints and 32 databases, 16 school databases that provide curriculum-aligned content and lesson plans, professional development support and student activities to US schools and 16 academic scholarly research tools to academic institutions. It has more than 23,000 titles in its portfolio.
This acquisition is an excellent strategic fit; further strengthening Bloomsbury Digital Resources and significantly accelerating Bloomsbury’s academic publishing presence in North America, while growing international revenues and enabling access to new markets including the US high school and public library sectors.
Nigel Newton, Chief Executive of Bloomsbury, commented: “ABC-Clio is a strong addition to Bloomsbury USA, our Academic and Professional division and Bloomsbury Digital Resources. This acquisition significantly grows Bloomsbury’s academic and digital publishing presence in North America, creates new opportunities in international markets and opens new publishing areas to Bloomsbury, and is another key step in the delivery of our long-term strategic growth strategy. We are delighted to welcome the addition of ABC-Clio and all its employees to Bloomsbury USA and the wider Bloomsbury Group.”
Becky Snyder, President of ABC-CLIO, commented: “Founded by Eric and Inge Boehm in 1955, ABC-CLIO has stood at the forefront of scholarly publishing and academic solutions, committed to igniting a lifelong passion for learning through student-led research. Our family-owned company has had deep ties and commitment to its authors and customers and we believe that intellectual curiosity and educational achievement go hand in hand. We are excited to be joining the team at Bloomsbury; a company we greatly respect and whose values and mission align with ours. We are excited about the opportunity Bloomsbury brings us, to significantly expand our reach in shaping education through innovative products that support research and learning.”
The business will operate within Bloomsbury’s Academic and Professional division and run as part of Bloomsbury USA. ABC-CLIO’s 32 databases, which are split between Higher Education and Schools will enhance the Bloomsbury Digital Resources portfolio, enabling it to significantly scale the digital offering globally. It will also enable the company to expand its presence in the higher education market with an increased content set.