Sonoma acquires Finland and Sweden publisher

Media firm Sonoma has acquired Swedish and Finnish educational firm Tammi Learning.

According to a press release issued on Friday, Sonoma has assumed all of Tammi Learning’s assets in the deal, including its shares of educational publisher Bonnier Utbildning AB of Bonnier AB media group.

Meanwhile, Sonoma has at the same time sold its shares in publisher Werner Soderstrom Ltd. (WSOY) To Bonnier, which is must undergo review via Finland’s competition agency. The transaction is expected to be completed in the autumn of this year.

Finland-based Sonoma already has educational operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Hungary and Russia, as well as in Finland. In 2010, Sonoma’s total net sales figure for its learning enterprises was EUR 249 million.

Sonoma Learning & Literature chief executive, Jacques Eijkens said: “We are delighted with this transaction which brings us to the Swedish learning market and strengthens our Finnish learning business. Both Bonnier Utbildning and Tammi Learning are excellently performing learning companies, which extend well our portfolio,” Reuters reports.

Net sales for Tammi Learning in 2010 were EUR 10.2 million, whilst Bonnier Utbildning’s net sales stood at EUR 17.6 million. The former employed some 80 people last year and the latter employed about 100 people.

Experts say the acquisition will likely improve profitability for Sonoma from 2012 onwards.