Italy’s Arnoldo Mondadori Editore announced last week that they will spin off their book publishing and book distribution units as a separate, freestanding company effective January 1, 2015, to be called Mondadori Libri. The company says “the operation will not involve any changes to the overall profile of the underlying businesses and operating characteristics of the group.” The move is seen as opening the door to more aggressive mergers and acquisitions opportunities, from partnerships to purchases, or as the release states it, “The contribution will also facilitate the creation of a more functional corporate structure for the potential realization, with a view […]
Archives for December 2014
People, Etc.: Einstein Thompson Split, and More
Susanna Einstein and Meg Thompson will dissolve the Einstein Thompson Agency after the new year as they have “mutually and amicably decided to strike out on their own” after eight years working together, first at LJK Literary before forming their own agency. The Thompson Literary Agency and Einstein Literary Management will each open for business in January 2015, with both agencies continuing to work with Sandy Hodgman at Hodgman Literary for foreign rights. At Public Affairs, publicity director Jaime Leifer takes on the additional role of vp, associate publisher, reporting to Clive Priddle, recognizing her “growth as a leading voice […]
More Bests, for December and 2014
In monthly lists, Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz is Amazon’s Spotlight Pick, and Viv Albertine’s memoir Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys, Boys is their Featured Debut. The rest of the list: When Books Went to War, Molly Guptill Manning Here, Richard McGuire The Strange Library, Haruki Murakami, Ted Goossen Spare Parts, Joshua Davis Becoming Richard Pryor, Scott Saul Skylight, José Saramago Empire of Cotton, Sven Beckert The Boston Girl, Anita Diamant At Costco, Pennie’s Pick for December is The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells, by Andrew Sean Greer. For a full selection of over 45 notable December releases, see our […]
Corporate: Hachette UK Adds Ilex, and the Penguin Hotline
The latest acquisition in a busy year for M&A, Hachette UK has purchased illustrated reference book publisher Ilex and will make it part of Octopus. Alastair Campbell, who co-founded Ilex 15 years ago, is retiring from the company, but the rest of the publishing staff will be retained and transferred to London. The Bookseller says that Nielsen Bookscan shows Ilex as having sales of approximately £700,000 in 2013. Their specialty is books on photography and visual media. Octopus chief executive Alison Goff says in the announcement: “We have long-admired the Ilex list for its quality and creativity. The titles Ilex publish are essential reference […]