About:
Springer specializes in scientific and professional materials, with ca. 2,000 journals and 7,000 new book titles per year, mainly in science, technical and medical, transport and architecture. The Springer eBook collection (SpringerLink) offers more than 50,000 titles, and is expected to merge the Springer Book Archives for a combined list of more than 110,000 by the end of 2012.
Springer has offices in 25 countries worldwide, and was founded first as a bookshop in 1842. A publishing company quickly followed, started by Julius Springer in Berlin. An office in Vienna followed in 1924, and one in New York in 1964, followed quickly with more branches in Tokyo, London, Paris and Hong Kong.
In 1999, Bertelsmann acquired a majority share in Springer-Verlag. In 2003, the British financial investors Cinven and Candover acquired Kluwer Academic Publishers (KAP) and BertelsmannSpringer, which were merged in 2004.
In October 2008, Springer announced the acquisition of BioMed Central, a pioneering open access publisher, making Springer, in effect, the world’s largest open access publisher.
In 2009, Springer announced its sale to EQT, a Swedish financial investor, and GIC, the investment vehicle of the government of Singapore.
Key company developments in 2011 & 1st half year 2012
Financial:
n/a
Ownership, mergers & acquisition, internal organization:
In November 2011, Springer acquires Pharma Marketing and Publishing Services from Wolters Kluwer.
International:
In March 2012, Springer signed an agreement with the Beijing Normal University Press on a new book series, following up on several agreements and presentations in China in 2011.
Springer entered several parterships with journals and research institutions in Brazil.
Digital:
In March 2012, Springer launched a new platform for the corporate sector, Springer R&D.
Springer opened a new online resource for job search in healthcare, science and medical industries.
2010: Revenues from open access publishing continued to grow strongly at a rate of above 30%. The usage of Springer’s electronic content grew more than 10%.
Bestselling authors & titles:
n/a
Key points for analysis & conclusions:
n/a
Earlier developments:
In late 2009, Springer was sold by the private equity group Cinven and Candover to two financial investors, EQT, which is the private equity arm of Sweden’s Wallenberg family, and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) in a deal allegedly worth 2.3 billion EUR. Springer hab been previously reported as struggling under a 2.2 billion EUR net debt (according to the Financial Times).
Springer is one of the world’s leading publishers for professional and science information, with 55 imprints in 20 countries across Europe, Asia and the USA.
Springer’s eBook collection SpringerLink includes 37,000 titles, publishing ca. 2,000 journals and 6,500 new book titles per year, with a backlist of 70,000 titles, mostly in the STM segment.
In 2009, Springer expanded significantly its digital publishing strategies, launching notably AuthorMapper, SpringerExemplar, MyCopy and SpringerImages.
Note: Figures are based on sales generated in calendar 2011 or—for corporations with a fiscal year—from fiscal 2011. Data are from publicly available sources and include sales of books, journals, and digital products. Because publishing data were unavailable, Pannini and Disney/Hyperion are excluded from the rankings. The listing and publisher profiles were compiled by international publishing consultant Rudiger Wischenbart under the aegis of Livres Hebdo.
