Following recent speculation, WHSmith and Cinven Ltd. ("Cinven") confirm that they have expressed an interest in acquiring AOL Time Warner Book Group Inc. (which incorporates Little, Brown and Warner Books), with a view to combining WHSmith's publishing business, Hodder Headline, with AOL Time Warner Book Group Inc. This would enable Hodder Headline to create one of the leading transatlantic publishers.
Cinven would be the sole provider of equity capital to fund the merger of the two businesses.
Discussions are at a preliminary stage. A further announcement will be made in due course, if appropriate.