Wiley was founded in 1807 and competes in three markets represented by its core divisions: Scientific, Technical, Medical, and Scholarly (STMS); Professional/Trade (P/T); and Global Education. STMS (also known as Wiley-Blackwell) is the largest publisher for professional and scholarly societies. Wiley-Blackwell's programs encompass journals, books, major reference works, databases, and laboratory manuals, offered in print and electronically. P/T offers professionals and consumers books, subscription content, and information services in all media under targeted categories. Global Education publishes educational materials in all media formats.

Analysis & Key Developments

Financial

Wiley’s corporate revenue for fiscal year 2013 decreased 1% to 1.76 billion USD. Revenue from the Deltak, Inscape and ELS acquisitions (56 million USD) was offset by the divestment of Professional Development consumer publishing programs (27 million USD) and lower other print book revenue in each of Wiley’s three core businesses.

Research revenue decreased 3% (2% excluding the impact of foreign exchange). The decline was largely driven by lower print book revenue. Journal subscriptions decreased by 1% and book revenue decreased by 8%. Research accounted for 57% of total company revenue in fiscal year 2013.

Professional Development accounted for approximately 24% and Education generated 19%. Revenue decreased 3% to 417 million USD due a decline in book revenue driven by divested consumer titles. E-book revenue grew 17%.

Education revenue increased 6% to 335 million USD as growing digital revenue accounted for 30% of total Education revenue and digital content rose 20%, which offset a %15 decline in print business.

Books and book related publishing revenue, such as advertising and the sale of publishing rights, represent 48% of corporate revenue. Revenue from other Digital Products and Services was approximately 64 million EUR in fiscal year 2013.

Ownership, Mergers & Acquisition, Internal Organization

During fiscal 2013 Wiley initiated the largest restructuring and reinvestment program in its history, with the goal to save 80 million USD annually by the end of fiscal 2014, some of which will be reinvested in "high growth digital businesses.”

According to Stephen Smith, CEO and president of Wiley: "We expect a significant lift in FY15 earnings from savings resulting from the completion of the restructuring initiative, contributions from acquired business and new digital products and services. Going forward, we expect the downward trajectory of core-business earnings to moderate as print-related efficiencies take effect."

With the integration of digital technology, the company purchased non-content acquisitions such as Deltak, an online program provider for higher education institutions, bought in October 2012 for 220 million USD. Wiley also bought Inscape, the workplace assessment provider, and test preparatory platform provider ELS was acquired for 24 million USD in November 2012.

In January 2013, Wiley acquired FIZ Chemie Berlin, a provider of online database solutions for organic and industrial chemists.

Earlier Developments

Financial

Wiley’s fiscal performance in 2012 closed with a record high of 1.78 billion USD against 1.75 billion USD in 2011. The growth in Scientific, Technical, Medical and Scholarly (STMS) was partially offset by declines in Professional/Trade (P/T) and Global Education (GEd).

The STMS segment recorded the highest growth with 1.04 billion USD from journal subscriptions, books and other publishing income. The P/T Revenue declined 1% to 433.7 million USD. On a currency neutral basis, book revenue decreased 3% to 378.4 million USD while other publishing income grew 11% to 55.3 million USD. The decline in book revenue came mainly from the consumer line (8 million USD), cooking and travel, and technology and business (2 million USD).

GEd revenue for fiscal year 2012 increased 1% to 308.4 million USD but declined 1% excluding the favorable impact of foreign exchange. The decline reflects lower revenue from print books, partially offset by growth in non-traditional and digital content revenue and other publishing income.

The company’s revenue grew at a compound annual rate of 8% over the past five years, which includes the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing in February 2007.

Ownership, Mergers & Acquisition, Internal Organization

In February 2012, Wiley acquired Inscape, a leading provider of workplace learning solutions, for approximately 85 million USD. In March 2012 Wiley announced that a number of consumer print and digital publishing assets in its Professional/Trade business would be sold, including the well-known Frommer’s travel brand, culinary, general interest, nautical, pets, crafts, Webster’s New World, and Cliff’s Notes, which together are worth approximately 80 million USD.

Wiley promotes an active and growing Professional/Trade custom publishing program, with For Dummies publications customized to meet specific information needs of a wide range of organizations around the world.

International

Approximately 50% of the company's revenue is generated outside the United States. Wiley prioritized expansion into the Middle East, China, and Brazil.

Digital

Approximately 40% of the Company’s revenue for fiscal year 2012 was generated from digital products and services, as compared to 37% in the prior year. Digital revenue now accounts for 61% of total STMS revenue, against 59% last year.

In September, Wiley launched the Wiley Job Network, a new online recruitment tool that enables employers to attract talented applicants from high-caliber members in the fields of science, technology, healthcare, law, and business. The network has surpassed 50,000 registered users and over 2 million job views since its launch.

Digital revenue accounted for 15% of total P/T revenue, up from 10% in the prior year. E-book sales increased approximately 70% over the prior year to approximately 40 million USD, or 9% of total P/T revenue. Strong e-book growth came from all accounts, notably Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple.

Bestselling Authors & Titles

In 20 years, the For Dummies series has seen 1,600 titles with 250 million books printed. In addition, more than 40 Dummies apps and a live subscription service providing technical support around-the-clock via phone and chat were recently launched. Wiley stated in the 2011 annual report that "[For Dummies] is the fastest-growing such service in the market with 30% month-on-month growth.”

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