In 1996, Peter J. Quandt formed Haights Cross Communications, Inc., to acquire and grow publishing companies. Formerly president of the $400 million revenue Education Group at Primedia, Inc., Quandt secured backing from a major equity buyout fund, Great Hill Partners. To accelerate his acquisition activity, Quandt hired Whitestone Communications to target, and negotiate with, acquisition candidates.
Whitestone initiated a broad and thorough review of the markets of interest to Quandt. With Quandt, Whitestone prioritized the candidates of greatest interest and systematically contacted the potential sellers. Meetings with selected candidates were held, valuations offered, and transactions concluded. In three years, Whitestone had completed the first three acquisitions for Haights Cross and the company was producing $30 million in annual revenues.
Haights Cross has gone on to complete a total of 12 acquisitions, five of these with Whitestone. Haights Cross revenues are now $165 million and the company is one of the largest supplemental educational publishers in the U.S.
Haights Cross invested approximately $100 million to acquire the following companies through Whitestone:
Additionally, Haights Cross has other companies that have been acquired by Haights Cross:
Whitestone can readily generate the same results for your business. With its extensive database and knowledge of companies for sale, Whitestone will bring forward an impressive list of candidates to meet your strategic goals and work with you to conclude their acquisition in a timely manner.
