• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Login
  • Register
Publishers Lunch logo Publishers Lunch logo
  • Publishers Marketplace
  • Site Guide
  • Help
Login Sign Up
  • Personnel
  • AI
  • Compensation
  • Unions
  • Book Bans
  • New Releases
  • Earnings
  • The Trial
  • Archives
Publishers Lunch logo
  • Publishers Marketplace
  • Site Guide
  • Help
  • Publishers Marketplace
  • Site Guide
  • Help

October 30, 2023By Michael Cader

Simon & Schuster Officially Sold to KKR

October 30, 2023By Michael Cader

After the close of the market on Monday, Simon & Schuster confirmed the completion of their sale to KKR for $1.62 billion. S&S ceo Jonathan Karp wrote to employees:

“I believe our relationship with KKR will enable us to become an even greater version of what we already are: a company that strives for–and succeeds at–attracting and keeping a roster of the most talented authors, with a workforce of dedicated and highly motivated professionals; a pre-eminent publisher, for all kinds of readers, in all formats; a company that takes risks, seizes opportunities and cherishes innovation in its publishing and business practices.

“With KKR’s resources and support, we intend to become an even stronger company and a more dynamic force in our industry, while still maintaining our well-established record of editorial excellence and independence.”

Notably, “Our new parent company will enable Simon & Schuster to be the first American publisher of our size in which employees share ownership. Although many of us already feel ownership of our work, by sharing in ownership of the company itself, we will be a magnet for the best publishing talent and have more of a voice in charting our collective future. We will share information about our progress and our challenges more regularly.”

KKR partner Ted Oberwager, who leads their gaming, entertainment, media and sports verticals within the Americas Private Equity business, said in the release: “The company is in a strong position to capture the opportunity ahead, and we look forward to building on Simon & Schuster’s reputation for delivering engaging and compelling books to readers all over the world.”

It was almost three years ago that Penguin Random House made a deal to acquire S&S for $2.175 billion, before the US Federal District Court for Washington, DC blocked the sale a year ago.

Filed Under: Finance, Free, M&A

sidebar

Primary Free Sidebar

Login

Forgot Password Quick Pass User Login
Get Full Access
The Publishing Industry’s Essential Daily Read

Each Publishers Lunch Deluxe subscription includes full access to our searchable multi-year archive of industry news, a nightly email reporting 10 to 50 deal transactions, and our database of industry contacts, scripts, and posting privileges.

Learn More

RSS Automat

  • TIkTok's 8th Note Press Is Shutting Down, Returning Rights to Authors June 21, 2025 NYT/Bookseller
  • Researchers Find That Newer Meta AI Models Have Memorized More of Popular Books Like Harry Potter June 20, 2025 Ars Technica
  • David Steinberger Interviews James Daunt on the Open Book Podcast June 20, 2025 Open Road
  • Sourcebooks Makes Inc.'s Best Workplaces 2025 List June 18, 2025 Magazine list
  • Pearson to Acquire Career and Technical Education Leader eDynamic Learning June 16, 2025 Press Release
  • James Frey Has Rich Friends, and They Like His New Book June 12, 2025 WSJ
  • Leon Levy Foundation Awards $300,000 Grant to the Authors Guild Foundation to Preserve Literary Advocacy Archives June 10, 2025 Authors Guild
  • Trending: Tote Bags That Hold Just A Book June 10, 2025 Elle
  • Hadley, MA B&N Workers OK Union Contract After Two Years of Negotiation June 6, 2025 Daily Hampshire Gazette
  • Authors Guild Update On Albert Whitman Bankruptcy Hearing June 5, 2025 AG post
Publishers Marketplace logo

Contact Us

News

  • Publishers Marketplace
  • Report News
  • Discuss
  • Classifieds
  • Rights Offerings

Deals

  • Report A Deal

Books

  • Buzz Books

Jobs

  • Job Board
  • Privacy Policy Terms of Use