Riverdeep chief Barry O'Callaghan is reported to be considering £2 billion sterling bid for Reed Elsevier's education arm.
According to this morning's Financial Times, the Irish entrepreneur Mr O'Callaghan is "very interested", not least because of the potential cost savings available by combining Harcourt Education with Riverdeep.
Reed confirmed yesterday it was selling the education business to focus on its legal, science and medical and business-to-business interests.
Analysts estimate the education arm, which employs 5,300 people, could fetch between £1.6 billion and £2.4 billion.
