Wiley acquires Emerald Publishing in £337m deal
Wiley has acquired Emerald Publishing from Cambridge Information Group (CIG) in deal valued at £337 million (USD $452 million), expanding its journal portfolio to approximately 2,500 titles and significantly strengthening its position in the social sciences.
The acquisition adds nearly 500 journal brands, 8,000 book titles, and a substantial archive of case studies and backfile content to Wiley’s portfolio. The move is expected to bolster Wiley’s presence across disciplines including economics, business, finance, accounting, management, strategy, education, engineering, information and knowledge management, operations, public policy and environmental management.
Wiley said the acquisition not only increases its scale in research publishing but also strengthens its proprietary content assets at a time when demand for trusted scholarly content is growing rapidly amid the expansion of AI-powered tools and applications.
“Emerald represents an outstanding strategic fit for Wiley – a complementary portfolio, a compatible culture, and decades of specialised content that will meaningfully expand our scale and portfolio depth in both research publishing and research intelligence,” said Matthew Kissner, Wiley President and CEO. “This transaction reflects our conviction that research and AI are mutually reinforcing: our proprietary content and data fuels AI, and AI accelerates the pace of publishing. Emerald materially strengthens both – expanding our peer-reviewed content base and adding a high-margin, recurring revenue stream that we expect to drive meaningful shareholder value.”
Commenting on the acquisition, Vicky Williams, CEO of Emerald, said: “Wiley is the ideal home for Emerald and the global communities we serve. For almost 60 years, we have been dedicated to publishing the highest-quality peer-reviewed research that bridges the gap between academic discovery and practical application, as well as developing an internal and external-facing culture that promotes inclusion and belonging. Joining Wiley gives us the best-in-class platform, an extended global footprint, and further reach into academic and corporate markets to drive real-world impact, which aligns with our founding mission. We are excited to join Wiley and build on their exceptional foundation for growth, innovation, and integrity.”
Cambridge Information Group CEO Andy Snyder said the transaction marks the next stage in Emerald’s development.
“Emerald has built an exceptional reputation in academic publishing through its commitment to quality, innovation, and global impact. We are incredibly proud of the business the Emerald team has built and the value created over the years,” said Snyder. “Wiley is the ideal partner for Emerald’s next chapter, with the scale, capabilities, and strategic vision to further expand its reach and influence across the global research community.”