Avista Capital Partners acquires 50% of Thompson Publishing Group.

Avista Capital Partners (New York), a private equity firm that invests in media, healthcare and energy companies, has acquired a 50% interest in Thompson Publishing Group (Washington, D.C.) from DLJ Growth Capital Partners, a Credit Suisse equity fund, for approximately $130 million.

Established in 1972, Thompson produces over 300 subscription-based handbooks, newsletters, reference services, single-issue publications and online resources covering laws and regulatory mandates for professionals in the human resource, education, government grants and banking fields. Newsletter assets include such titles as "Executive Compensation Strategies," "Total Reward Strategies," "NCLB advisor," "Special Ed Advisor" and "Local/State Funding Report," with reports and manuals covering such topics as FDA enforcement, employee benefits compliance, flex plans, health care, clean air, sexual harassment, monitoring federal sub-awards and pension plans, among others. The company has approximately 110,000 subscribers.

Avista Partner OhSang Kwon said that "we believe this is a compelling investment opportunity because Thompson is integral to its subscribers' abilities to address and negotiate the constantly changing regulatory environment ... Thompson's ability to provide complex content on multi-channel platforms will continue to substantially enhance profitability in the next several years."