UK publisher Pearson scraps MEED bid

British education and media publisher Pearson has pulled out of plans to acquire Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), a regionally focused data and news service, UK newspaper The Independent reported.

Former Pearson boss Dame Marjorie Scardino was said to be mulling plans to buy MEED from trade publisher Top Right, but new CEO John Fallon has overturned the decision, the newspaper said.

Fallon, who took over Pearson last week, deemed the GDP£35m (US$65m) asking price too much, although there had been suggestions that Dame Marjorie might have paid more.

Top Right, formerly known as Emap, is believed to have scrapped the sale process, added the newspaper.

Dame Marjorie tripled sales at Pearson, owner of the Financial Times Group, during her 16-year tenure. Under her guidance the London-based firm expanded its education business as well as the digital versions of books, journals and newspapers in a bid to counter declining sales of print products. 

The Financial Times Group accounted for 7 percent of sales at Pearson in 2011, while education made up 75 percent and 18 percent from the Penguin book publisher.