The French communications group VIVENDI UNIVERSAL is to pay %2.2 bn for the American schools publishing group HUGHTON MIFFLIN (annual turnover of one billion dollars), including debts. VUP - VIVENDI UNIVERSAL PUBLISHING will thus move up from fifth to second place in the world of educational publishing, the group announces. The offer, that has received the clearance by the boards of the two companies, sets the price at $60 a share. At the end of this operation, VUP will focus on three major markets: games, education/literature and health. The education business will now engender an annual turnover of $2.2 bn. In addition, VIVENDI UNIVERSAL is considering selling its 23% stake in BSKYB - BRITISH BROADCASTING to institutional investors, share with an estimated value of £3 bn.