HOBOKEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: JWa, JWb), a global provider of content and workflow solutions in areas of scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly research; professional development; and education announced today that it has agreed to acquire Deltak.edu, LLC, a privately held Chicago-based leader in higher education and online learning services, for $220 million. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of October, will significantly accelerate Wileys digital learning strategy and diversify the companys service offerings to include operational and academic solutions for higher education institutions. For the fiscal year ended September 2012, Deltaks revenue was $54 million. Deltak will contribute solid growth to both Wileys Global Education business and Wiley overall.

Deltak is a high-growth company that works in close partnership with leading colleges and universities to develop and support fully online degree and certificate programs. The business, founded in 1997, provides technology platforms and services including market research validating program demand, instructional design, marketing, and student recruitment and retention services to leading national and regional colleges and universities throughout the United States to achieve strategic outcomes with online and hybrid program offerings. Today, Deltak supports more than 100 online programs.

A growing number of colleges and universities are looking to enter, expand, and succeed in the online education market. These same institutions often lack the required experience, expertise, and dedicated resources to move rapidly and successfully. Institutions choose to partner with Deltak for their proven model, extensive capabilities, deep experience in higher education, and cultural alignment. The partnership with Deltak allows institutions to achieve strategic objectives by launching online programs, increasing enrollments, and extending their brand with minimal risk and investment.

The acquisition of Deltak will extend Wileys Global Education trajectory into a high-growth segment of the market and bring additional expertise to the organization in such areas as curriculum design, student recruitment services, and next generation technology solutions, said Joseph Heider, Wileys Senior Vice President, Global Education. We will leverage Wiley's publishing assets, student and instructor workflow applications, institutional relationships, and market expertise to add a competitive advantage to Deltak's current offerings and develop new products and services for the higher education market. Well also expand our online learning services to universities worldwide and create opportunities for Deltaks partners to increase their reach to the global markets we serve.

Stephen M. Smith, Wileys President and Chief Executive Officer, added, The exciting combination of Wiley and Deltak provides an opportunity for us to serve the growing needs of a wide range of customers in Higher Education around the world. Looking ahead, it will provide us with a platform for transformative new institutional products and services that will benefit customers across Wiley, including professionals, scholarly society customers, and higher education institutions.

We are very excited to join the John Wiley & Sons, Inc., family, said Craig Pines, Deltaks President and Chief Executive Officer. Wileys scale, digital assets, and international reach will substantially enhance the value we can deliver to our university partners and allow us to accelerate our growth strategies and reach new markets. Of equal importance, our cultures are closely aligned as people-focused organizations with a strong desire to develop our colleagues into leaders.

Deltak is located in Chicago, Orlando, and Denver. The Companys 300+ colleagues will become part of Wiley after the closing. Lazard Middle Market served as financial advisor to Deltak.

Wiley Global Educations mission is to help teachers teach and students learn. The company provides personalized content, tools, and services that deliver demonstrable results to students and faculty at two- and four-year colleges and universities, for-profit career colleges, and advanced-placement classes globally, as well as secondary schools in Australia. In addition to its print and digital textbooks programs, the company offers a variety of cost-effective, flexible print and digital solutions, including customizable solutions and WileyPLUS, a research-based, online environment for effective teaching and learning.

About Deltak

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Wiley to Acquire Deltak.edu, LLC, Leading Provider of Online Degree Program Services