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Acquisitions: PRH Buys Salamandra, Scholastic’s Film Investment, and More

May 3, 2019
By Michael Cader

Already the world’s largest Spanish-language publisher, Penguin Random House continues to build on that position with another acquisition, agreeing to acquire Barcelona-based Ediciones Salamandra from Sigrid Kraus and Pedro del Carril. The company has over 500 authors on their list.

Kraus will remain as publishing manager, “working closely” with PRH Grupo Editorial ceo Núria Cabutí. PRH ceo Markus Dohle underscores in the announcement, “Penguin Random House strongly believes in the global growth potential of the Spanish-language market, and we very much look forward to bringing Ediciones Salamandra’s authors to an even wider readership.”

Pedro del Carril adds: “Of all the large publishing groups in the world, none is better than Penguin Random House to take over and carry forward a legacy of thirty years devoted to high-quality publishing.” And Kraus comments: “I am really excited about this magnificent opportunity to ensure Salamandra’s continuity. The challenge ahead will be to leverage PRH’s support to strengthen and expand the prestige earned by Salamandra from publishing delightful, moving, and surprising books.”

Erik Feig has been building his new production company Picturestart since leaving Lionsgate a year ago, and on Thursday the company officially memorialized the media partners that have helped to fund it. Warner Bros. is the lead investor and has a first-look deal and the group includes Endeavor Content — as well as Scholastic, which has provided funding as well as “unique access to its IP for development into other forms of media.” (Feig produced or oversaw production of the Twilight and Hunger Games movies, along with the Divergent series, Perks of Being A Wallflower, Wonder and other adaptations.) Projects already underway include the live-action movie based on the American Girls dolls.

Separately, Highlights for Children has sold Boyds Mills Press and its affiliated imprints, Calkins Creek and WordSong, to Kane Press, effective immediately. The company will operate as Boyds Mills & Kane, based in New York. Staff moving over to Boyd Mills & Kane include Carolyn Yoder, senior editor at Calkins Creek; Rebecca Davis, senior editor at BMP and WordSong; Barbara Grzeslo, art director; Kerry McManus, marketing manager; and Suzy Krogulski, assistant editor.

SVP, publisher of the Highlights Retail Group Mary-Alice Moore said in the announcement, “BMP has been an important, vibrant part of the Highlights legacy of serving kids and families. But the expansion of our Highlights branded businesses—in publishing, licensing, digital, and international—means we are no longer able to devote the appropriate strategic attention and resources that the BMP books so richly deserve. We are heartened by Kane’s commitment to the long-term success of the books and authors and illustrators we love.”

Filed Under: Film/TV, Finance, Free, M&A

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