NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) ("the Company") today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its McGraw-Hill Education business to investment funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC (NYSE: APO) (collectively with its subsidiaries, "Apollo"), for a purchase price of $2.5 billion, subject to certain closing adjustments.  As part of this transaction, McGraw-Hill will receive $250 million in senior unsecured notes issued by the purchaser at an annual interest rate of 8.5%.  The transaction, which is expected to close in late 2012 or early 2013, is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

Upon closing, McGraw-Hill, which will be renamed McGraw Hill Financial (subject to shareholder approval), will be a high-growth, high-margin benchmarks, content and analytics company in the global capital and commodities markets.  With customers in more than 150 countries, McGraw Hill Financial expects 2012 revenue of approximately $4.4 billion with nearly 40% from international markets.  The Company will provide 2013 financial guidance for McGraw Hill Financial when it announces its 2012 fourth quarter and year-end financial results.

"After carefully considering all of the options for creating shareholder value, the McGraw-Hill Board of Directors concluded that this agreement generates the best value and certainty for our shareholders and will most favorably position the world-class assets of McGraw-Hill Education for long-term success," said Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies who will lead McGraw Hill Financial once the transaction is complete.  "We were able to secure an attractive outcome and create additional balance sheet flexibility for McGraw Hill Financial."

Mr. McGraw added, "McGraw-Hill Education is a leader in digital learning with world-class content and enormously talented and committed employees.  As we begin the next chapter in our rich history, I am very proud of and grateful to all the McGraw-Hill Education professionals who are contributing so much to the company and to educators, administrators and students all over the world.  I look forward to seeing their continued success with the expertise and support of Apollo."

"We are excited about this announcement and what it means for McGraw-Hill Education," added Lloyd G. "Buzz" Waterhouse, President and CEO of McGraw-Hill Education.  "Apollo is a leading global alternative investment manager and its affiliated funds have made significant investments in learning companies for more than a decade.  McGraw-Hill Education's expertise and premier brands coupled with Apollo's resources represent a powerful combination."

Larry Berg, Senior Partner of Apollo said, "With a longstanding track record of investing behind leaders in education, Apollo is pleased to be acquiring a marquee business that has been a pioneer in educational innovation and excellence for over a century.  McGraw-Hill Education has a deep and impassioned management team, and we share their enthusiasm and strategic vision for the business.  We look forward to leveraging the company's leading portfolio of trusted brands and innovative digital learning solutions to drive growth through the ongoing convergence of education and technology on a global basis."

"Today's transaction marks a transformative time for our company, shareholders, customers and employees," Mr. McGraw said.  "This move builds on McGraw-Hill's strong legacy and gives us an unprecedented opportunity to focus on accelerating the growth of our iconic brands and leading franchises such as Standard & Poor's, S&P Dow Jones Indices, S&P Capital IQ, Platts and J.D. Power and Associates.  The strong trends driving global financial markets create enormous growth opportunities for McGraw Hill Financial.  As markets become more interconnected, as more borrowers around the world fund growth through the capital markets, and as technology produces more and more data in a complex world, our leading brands provide essential intelligence and independent benchmarks across asset classes and markets."

Upon closing of the transaction, McGraw Hill Financial will have considerable balance sheet flexibility.  The Company will use the estimated proceeds of approximately $1.9 billion, net of tax and certain closing adjustments, from this sale to sustain its share repurchase program, to make selective tuck-in acquisitions that enhance McGraw Hill Financial's portfolio of powerful brands, and to pay off any short-term borrowing obligations. 

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company will classify and report results of McGraw-Hill Education as discontinued operations.  As a result of this transaction, the Company anticipates a non-cash impairment charge in the fourth quarter of approximately $450 to $550 million relating to the School Education Group.

The McGraw-Hill Companies announced in September 2011 it would separate into two industry-leading companies following a year-long strategic portfolio review.  This decision was a key driver of the Company's Growth and Value Plan, which also included a commitment to generate $100 million in cost savings and a significant share repurchase program.  On November 2, 2012, the Company provided an update of its progress on these initiatives and will do so again when it announces its 2012 fourth quarter and year-end results.

McGraw-Hill received financial advice from Evercore Partners and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and legal advice from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Clifford Chance.

Apollo received financial advice from Credit Suisse, UBS Investment Bank and BMO Financial Group.  The financing is provided by Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, UBS Investment Bank, Nomura and BMO.  Apollo received legal advice from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP.

About McGraw Hill Financial

McGraw Hill Financial will be a powerhouse in benchmarks and analytics for the global capital and commodity markets and includes the following leading brands: Standard & Poor's, S&P Dow Jones Indices, S&P Capital IQ, Platts, Crisil, J.D. Power and Associates, McGraw-Hill Construction and Aviation Week.  The Company's mission is to promote sustainable growth by bringing transparency and independent insights to the global capital and commodity markets.  The Company will have approximately 17,000 employees in more than 30 countries around the world.  For more information, please visit www.mcgraw-hill.com.

About McGraw-Hill Education 

McGraw-Hill Education is a digital learning company that draws on its more than 100 years of educational expertise to offer solutions which improve learning outcomes around the world. McGraw-Hill Education is the adaptive education technology leader with the vision for creating a highly personalized learning experience that prepares students of all ages for the world that awaits.  The Company has offices across North America, India, China, Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning solutions available in more than 65 languages.  For additional information, visit www.mheducation.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.  Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements.  In particular, the sale transaction described is subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the ability of the buyer to obtain financing, the ability to obtain all required regulatory approvals and the anticipated tax treatment of the sale and related transactions, as well as risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities, losses, declines in economic performance or future prospects.  More detailed information about factors that may affect our performance may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which can be obtained at its website at http://www.sec.gov.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts: 
Patti Rockenwagner 
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications 
(212) 512-3533 
patti_rockenwagner@mcgraw-hill.com

Chip Merritt 
Vice President, Investor Relations 
(212) 512-4321  
chip_merritt@mcgraw-hill.com 

SOURCE The McGraw-Hill Companies