In a recent Book Industry Study Group program on rights, speakers discussed the changing landscape for translation, international, backlist rights, and more. The BISG also shared their rights tools and resources, including two papers on publishing rights and a multi-part rights education series on the BISG Youtube. BISG has also launched a four-part FAQ on rights on the Language of Rights, Acquiring Rights, Selling Rights, and Rights Best Practices, available on the BISG website. Literary agent at Sebes and Bisseling in Amsterdam Willem Bisseling described the agency’s new policy of selling English-language rights to Dutch publishers. He said that the […]
Agency News
CAA Announces International Rights Team
As expected since CAA finalized their acquisition of ICM in late June, the agency has now formally acknowledged recently “bringing the agency’s translation rights business in-house.” Previously, ICM had a longstanding substantial co-agenting agreement with Curtis Brown UK, in which the UK agency had represented UK and translation rights to ICM titles. (Curtis Brown UK was itself acquired by CAA rival UTA in June.) CAA’s London-based rights team comprises a number of Curtis Brown UK veterans, run by Helen Manders and Daisy Meyrick, and joined by Claire Nozieres, Sarah Harvey (previously at CB UK, most recently head of rights at […]
Survey: AALA Members Are “Strongly Against” PRH Merger
Over the course of the last five days, the Association of American Literary Agents conducted a survey of its members about Penguin Random House’s plans to acquire Simon & Schuster, asking whether they are for or against the merger with most respondents replying “strongly against.” A release notes that “nearly nine out of ten” of the people who responded oppose it. The survey was conducted from August 11 to August 16, as the government’s antitrust trial against PRH stretched into its third week. The AALA could not provide a number of people who responded, as they said more surveys continue […]
Agencies: YMU Launches U.S. Books Division
Talent management company YMU has launched a books arm in the U.S., led by Aram Fox. Fox comes from Aram Fox Literary Scouting, which represented international publishers and US film companies. The U.S. opening follows that of a literary division in the UK, headed by global managing director, literary Amanda Harris, which “has grown exponentially over the last two years” according to a release. Based in New York, Fox will report to Harris and represent YMU’s clients–including music, entertainment, sports, social, and arts talent–in North America, and sign new clients.
Private Equity Giant EQT Takes Major Stake In UTA
Swedish-based private equity firm EQT has become a large “strategic investor” in UTA, as the largest outside shareholder in the firm. They are buying out investment firm Investcorp’s full minority stake, and are also acquiring a “portion of existing stakes” from others shareholders including PSP Investments. In 2018, Investcorp and PSP Investments bought approximately 40 percent of the agency, for an estimated $200 million. Investcorp executive Dave Tayeh proclaims, “Our investment in UTA was highly successful.” The deal is expected to close later this month, and is one of the first transactions for EQT’s newest fund, which will range from […]
CAA Closes Acquisition of ICM
Following an extended delay awaiting government review, CAA has completed their acquisition of ICM, first announced in September 2021. The deal is reported as valuing ICM at $750 million. (When ICM sold a minority one-third share in the agency to Crestview Partners in 2019, the price was reportedly approximately $150 million.) In the original announcement, CAA had emphasized the strength of ICM’s books department: “ICM’s industry-leading books division superbly complements CAA’s content-driven motion pictures, television, and podcasting businesses, in addition to its speakers arm, and other divisions.” Today’s announcement adds, “ICM brings to CAA a leading literary agency in the […]