Trillium Partners Limited (Trillium), the independent corporate finance advisory firm, has advised Nova/Paul Investments Capital (Nova/Paul) and management shareholders on the disposal of the entire issued share capital of The Continuum International Publishing Group Limited (Continuum) to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (Bloomsbury) for a total cash consideration of £20.1 million.

Continuum, which is based in London and New York, is an international academic and professional publisher with a small trade list. It has world class academic lists, some of which date back over 170 years and include a number of the most distinguished international authors in the humanities and social sciences, including Karl Barth, Martin Heidegger, Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Alain Badiou.

Continuum will become the cornerstone of Bloomsbury’s Academic & Professional Division – its leading positions in Continental Philosophy, Education, Theology, Biblical Studies, History, Literary Studies, Linguistics and Politics complement Bloomsbury’s existing academic lists and its clear digital strategy provides the catalyst for further growth in the enlarged group.

Trillium specialises in M&A, financial restructuring and fund raising transactions and corporate finance advice.  The firm has a core expertise in information products and digital media, providing support for clients as they undertake transactions to position themselves for sustainable future growth and profitability.

Trillium advised Nova/Paul on all aspects of the disposal. In particular, Trillium: (a) facilitated and conducted bilateral and multi-party negotiations with various stakeholders including Nova/Paul, Continuum, Bloomsbury and their advisers; (b) co-ordinated the disposal process and communicated with Nova/Paul’s other advisers, as well as with Bloomsbury and their advisers; and (c) assisted Nova/Paul with negotiation, valuation and reviewing transaction structuring options.

Oliver Gadsby, Continuum’s CEO commented:
“Trillium provided excellent support through a very effective sale process – from early planning, to the creation of a well presented Information Memorandum and financial pack, and on to the negotiation of a deal which worked well for buyers and sellers. The Trillium team were attentive to detail, responsive to the pace of a fast-moving deal, and a pleasure to work with.”

Patrick Austen, Operating Partner at Nova/Paul stated:
“The Trillium team performed excellently throughout a compressed process with great attention to the detail of the interrelationships and of the complex modelling of the financial structure of the sellers. Their diplomacy between the parties was much appreciated.”

Philip Mastriforte of Trillium added:
“Continuum has been transformed over the last three years in to a digitally progressive business and has continued to build on its outstanding heritage in Humanities and Social Sciences. There is an excellent fit with Bloomsbury’s Academic and Professional division and we are delighted to have been able to assist Continuum’s shareholders in achieving a successful exit”

About Trillium Partners
Trillium Partners is an independent mid-market firm that advises listed companies, private firms and financial sponsors on M&A and Private Capital raising transactions valued at £20 million to £500 million in the B2B Information Services and Events, Consumer Media, Learning and Development, and Marketing Services.

Over the last 30 years, we have advised our clients on a comprehensive array of transactions in the UK, Europe, USA and Asia, with an aggregate value in excess of £10 billion. Underpinned by deep sector knowledge and insight, our expertise extends from private acquisitions and disposals to public offers and raising capital from the private equity, family office, banking and alternative finance communities for working capital, business development, acquisitions and buy-outs.

For more information regarding this transaction, please contact Stephen Routledge or Philip Mastriforte on +44 (0)20 3008 8375