Wiley to acquire Blackwell Publishing (Holdings) Ltd

"John Wiley & Sons, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the outstanding shares of Blackwell Publishing (Holdings) Ltd., one of the world's foremost academic and professional publishers. The purchase price of £572 million will be financed with a combination of debt and cash. Wiley has received irrevocable commitments from the principal Blackwell shareholders to sell their shares to Wiley. Additional details will be provided after the closing of the transaction, which is anticipated early in 2007"