9to5Google cites “an extremely reliable source” as confirming that Google “is in the process of building stand-alone retail stores in the U.S. and hopes to have the first flagship Google Stores open for the holidays in major metropolitan areas.” The stores would sell Google-branded electronics–tablest, netbooks and phones. But the WSJ adds, “it isn’t clear when or where any stores would open, and one of the people said the Internet giant might not move forward with the plan this year.” The company already operates smaller in-store boutiques under the Chrome brand in Best Buy in the US and PCworld/Dixon’s in […]
Archives for February 2013
People, Etc.
Alexis Gargagliano has left Scribner after more than 11 years and will work as a freelance editor. She has launched a new website and may be reached at alexisgargagliano@gmail.com. Olga Filina has joined The Rights Factory as an associate agent. She was a literary assistant at The Cooke Agency (after spending more than a decade as a sales manager at national and indie bookstores). To correct Friday’s personnel announcement, Tara Parsons is moving over to Mira as executive editor from HQN and Luna, where she held the same position. Haruki Murakami‘s Japanese publisher says that his next novel will be […]
S&S Finishes with Soft Sales But Growing Profits; Denies Sale Rumors
CBS reported fourth quarter earnings after the close of the market on Thursday, with Simon & Schuster recording a 6 percent decrease in sales, down $14 million to $215 million. Consistent with their recent pattern, however, profits rose even with lower sales. Adjusted OIBDA gained $3 million (or 11 percent) to $31 million, and adjusted operating income rose $2 million, at $27 million. S&S took a $3 million restructuring charge this quarter related to their realignment into new “publishing groups” and the elimination of some positions. (This time a year ago they took a $2 million charge.) As usual, CBS […]
A Status Check on Penguin Random House Reviews Outside of the US
Following Thursday’s swifter-than-expected DOJ approval of the Penguin Random House merger, we thought it instructive to check in on regulatory reviews of the deal in other countries. As we pointed out in December, Penguin Random House would, if approved, operate as two distinct entities: a Delaware corporation “that will own Bertelsmann and Pearson’s consumer businesses that operate in the USA”; and a UK-incorporated Penguin Random House that will be responsible for the additional consumer publishing businesses that operate in the rest of the world. The proposed company split may explain why the DOJ could move at a hastier speed than […]
People
At Harlequin, Mira executive editor Valerie Gray will retire at the end of March after more than 13 years with the company. As a result, Tara Parsons will move into the role in addition to her duties as executive editor for HQN and Luna. Also at Mira, Nicole Brebner has been promoted to senior editor, while both Leonore Waldrip and Michelle Venditti move up to assistant editor (Waldrip will also work on HQN titles.) In addition, Susan Swinwood has been promoted to executive editor, HQN and Luna, while Margo Lipschultz moves up to senior editor. Finally, Emily Martin has been […]
DOJ Approves Penguin Random House Merger
The US Department of Justice has provided an unexpected Valentine to Penguin and Random House: The department notified Bertelsmann and Pearson “that it has closed its investigation into the proposed merger of Penguin and Random House, without conditions,” according to a statement from Penguin. The swift approval is remarkable, particularly since the DOJ took roughly nine months to sign off on the much smaller acquisition of Thomas Nelson by HarperCollins. (The merger deal was announced in October 2012.) That also makes the US the first country to approve the proposed merger. Review is still underway in Canada, at the European […]