Lakeside Book Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of specialty printer Phoenix Color Corp. from ALJ Regional Holdings. Subject to regulatory and stockholder approval, the deal is expected to go through in the second quarter of 2022. Phoenix has plants in Maryland and Indiana, manufacturing book components, children’s books, and other print products. “The combination of Phoenix’s component production capabilities and Lakeside’s book manufacturing services would provide customers the benefits of streamlined order processing, scheduling and speed of delivery,” Phoenix chair and ceo Marc Reisch said in a release. “We know Phoenix well as […]
Archives for February 2022
Judge In Bernardini Case Expresses “Confusion”
Accused manuscript thief Filippo Bernardini appeared in federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday, after pleading not guilty, surrendering his passport, and being released on a $300,000 cash bond. A long article in Vulture by Reeves Wiedeman with Lila Shapiro says that Judge Colleen McMahon expressed “confusion about the case,” asking the prosecutor “What exactly did he do?” Wiedeman and Shapiro write, “The prosecution said it was not aware of any attempt to remarket the stolen manuscripts, and it didn’t offer an alternative explanation for the alleged crime.” “So he wanted to read books before they were published?” Judge McMahon reportedly […]
Maryland Concedes They Are Regulating Where Congress Would Not Go
In a bizarre reply to the AAP’s request for a preliminary injunction, the state of Maryland both concedes and underscores that Congress specifically declined to create a first sale doctrine for digital goods, leaving it to the marketplace to adapt. Unhappy with that decision and its effect, Maryland has elected to regulate the marketplace for copyrighted goods, in conflict with Congress and the law. They justify that with the novel suggestion that once copyrighted goods are offered to the marketplace, they have magically “left the world of copyright” — except they haven’t — and “entered the marketplace for such transactions,” […]
Waterstones Reportedly In Talks to Acquire Blackwell’s
Waterstones is in discussions to purchase Blackwell’s, Sky News reports. The 18-store UK chain confirmed it is in a period of exclusivity with an unnamed purchaser to negotiate a deal. Waterstones is said to be pursuing the acquisition on a solvent basis, and it is expected that such a deal would require regulatory approval. The Blackwell family has owned the operation since its founding in 1879.
Audie Awards Finalists
Harper Shows Modest Growth In Holiday Quarter
News Corp. reported fiscal second quarter sales through December 31, 2021 after the close of the market on Thursday, with HarperCollins recorded sales of $617 million. Sales were up $73 million compared to a year ago, but $50 million of that came from the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt trade acquisition. The $23 million organic growth at Harper comprised a 4.2 percent gain, their softest increase over the six straight quarters of gains. HMH on its own declined compared to a year ago. At HMH Books & Media, for which the company has been exploring a sale since November, sales for the […]