Kaplan Test Prep has acquired the test prep, study aid and foreign language assets of Barron's Educational Series--altogether about 650 titles--as well as the Barron's brand name. Barron's other titles, including children's, parenting, cooking, art, hobby and craft, coloring and activity and pet books--about 1,350 titles--will continue to be published under a new name, B.E.S. Publishing, which remains in the company's headquarters in Hauppauge, N.Y. Some Barron's Educational Series employees have been let go as a result of the sale.
Manuel Barron, 98, who founded Barron's in 1941, said: "I couldn't be more pleased to pass the torch on to a company that shares the same roots and values as Barron's. Kaplan has also been a strong innovator in delivering educational programs and products, and I'm thrilled that Kaplan will be powering the future of the Barron's brand to new generations of students."
John Polstein, CEO of Kaplan Test Prep, a Graham Holdings Company subsidiary, commented: "Kaplan and Barron's have always had a symbiotic relationship since our founder, Stanley Kaplan, worked for Manuel Barron decades ago to help a generation of students prep for the [New York State] Regents exams. As we look to prep future generations, we are thrilled to bring Barron's into our portfolio and look forward to helping the Barron's brand flourish."
Polstein said Kaplan has no plans to integrate the brands: "Kaplan and have both been successful taking different approaches to instruction and learning, as they appeal to different types of learners. We plan to continue with that approach."