KKR, Francisco Partners & H.I.G Capital Reach Agreement on RBMedia Acquistion

Francisco Partners, a leading global investment firm, specializing in technology and media-focused businesses, announced today that it has partnered with H.I.G. Capital and RBmedia’s management to complete the acquisition of RBmedia from KKR. With this investment, H.I.G. who you can meet at the UK Private Equity Conference and Francisco Partners will support RBmedia, the leading audiobook publisher in the world, in the continued growth of the company’s vast catalog of spoken content and powerful distribution network that reaches millions of global listeners.

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Landover, Maryland, RBmedia’s award-winning catalog of over 66,000 titles is available through more than 50 digital listening platforms, including Audible, Spotify, Apple, Google Play, Scribd, Storytel, OverDrive, Hoopla, and others. Over the last five years, the company has doubled its catalog of content to deliver diverse options to its listeners.

“We are excited to partner with H.I.G. to help usher in RBmedia’s next phase of growth as the audiobook industry continues to expand. Francisco Partners has extensive experience in audio and content publishing, technology and media and we believe audiobooks are at a positive inflection point. Working together, our capital and operating insights will give RBmedia’s team renewed resources to continue to solidify their reputation as the most valuable partner for authors, publishers, distributors, and voice actors in the audiobook market.” said Matt Spetzler, Partner & Co-Head of Europe at Francisco Partners, and Jason Brein, Partner at Francisco Partners.

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“We look forward to working with Francisco Partners and H.I.G. to capitalize on the numerous tailwinds present in the industry. We welcome Francisco’s media technology expertise and its global presence and are eager to partner with them and H.I.G. on the next chapter of our story,” said Tom Maclsaac, CEO of RBmedia.

Aaron Tolson, Managing Director at H.I.G., said, “The audiobook industry is poised for sustained growth, and H.I.G. is thrilled to collaborate with RBmedia’s management team and Francisco Partners to usher the company into its next chapter. I am confident that together with Francisco Partners, we will bolster RBmedia’s position as a leading audiobook publisher.”

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, RBC Capital Markets, and Barclays acted as financial advisors. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal advice to Francisco Partners and Latham & Watkins LLP provided legal advice to H.I.G. Capital.

Source: Francisco Partners

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