Penningtons Manches advises APA Publications on the acquisition of leading travel publisher Rough Guides

Posted: 04/12/2017

The corporate team at Penningtons Manches has advised APA Publications, which also publishes Insight Guides and Berlitz, on the acquisition of Rough Guides from Dorling Kindersley for an undisclosed sum.

Rough Guides, which has a strong UK presence, has been publishing travel guidebooks for the past 35 years, producing guidebooks on more than 120 worldwide destinations and dictionary phrasebooks in 18 languages.

Rene Frey, CEO of APA Publications, said: “I am delighted to confirm that we have agreed terms to acquire Rough Guides Limited from DK. Rough Guides is a leading travel guide brand, publishing award-winning guidebooks and a highly engaging consumer website, roughguides.com. It is a perfect fit for us and represents a significant expansion of our travel portfolio.”

Penningtons Manches’ corporate team has completed a number of high profile deals this year. Following revenue growth of 29% in 2016-17, the team continues to build momentum and has completed over 100 transactions so far this year with an aggregate deal value of over £1 billion.

The team was led by corporate partner Simon Bickerdike, assisted by corporate tax specialist Stephen Goldstraw, employment partner David Bickford, pensions partner Maria Riccio, with company secretarial advice from Richard Scampton and Sherrie Thomas.

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