It takes a while for the metadata for our impressively fat, 6.7 pound printed hardcover edition of THE TRIAL: The DOJ’s Suit to Block Penguin Random House’s Acquisition of Simon & Schuster to populate throughout the retail chain — but we’re happy to report some mainstream alternatives to our own Aerio-powered storefront. Prime members can stick Amazon with the full shipping cost and still receive this big beauty promptly. And if you find our retail price daunting, they’ll even offer you an installment plan. Barnes & Noble customers can purchase online now as well.
Antitrust Trial
The Big Book, Now Final
Just in time for the holidays is this unique gift for publishing junkies or the perfect memento for your shelves of the year’s major event: Our comprehensive record of THE TRIAL: The DOJ’s Suit to Block Penguin Random House’s Acquisition of Simon & Schuster is now available in print as well. With the encouragement and assistance of our friends at Ingram Content Group and Lightning Source, this 1,194-page, 8.5 x 11 book maximizes the capabilities of print-on-demand — and weighs in at an impressive 6.7 pounds. The text was updated to include Judge Florence Pan’s full 80-page opinion and our […]
Now Officially Not: Paramount Terminates Simon & Schuster Sale to Bertelsmann, Will Collect $200 (Million) and Pass Go to Other Suitors
On Monday afternoon after the close of the stock market in the US, Paramount Global confirmed in an SEC filing that they have terminated the agreement to sell Simon & Schuster to Bertelsmann, following the enjoining of the sale on antitrust grounds by Judge Florence Pan. The company says, “On November 21, 2022, Paramount terminated the Purchase Agreement in accordance with its terms. Penguin Random House is obligated to pay a $200 million termination fee to Paramount.” Regarding the status of Simon & Schuster within Paramount, as it heads to record results for the year, Paramount reiterates its previous position: […]
Paramount Expected to Let Penguin Random House Deal for Simon & Schuster Expire, Rather Than Await Appeal
Paramount will not extend the deadline for Penguin Random House’s purchase of Simon & Schuster to wait for a judicial appeal, sources first told Reuters (quickly followed by the NYT and the WSJ). The purchase agreement is thought to expire on or about November 21 (it was executed on November 24, 2020). Under the reported terms of that agreement, Bertelsmann must pay Paramount a $200 million termination fee. (As we noted earlier, the fee will cost Bertelsmann more than originally planned, given the rising dollar. In late 2020 it would have taken 169 million euros to pay out $200 million; […]
Judge Pan Finds “Compelling Case” to Block Penguin Random House/Simon & Schuster Merger
As Judge Florence Pan makes painfully clear in her now-issued full “memorandum opinion” blocking Penguin Random House’s acquisition of Simon & Schuster, in her view it was never a close case: She finds in favor of all of the government’s key arguments and building blocks, and positively scoffs at many of the defendants’ “medley of other arguments.” Along the way, she provides multiple burns — of PRH in particular and the Big Five in general, including the contention the merger would have no effect on advances (“incredible”); PRH’s bidding pledges (“the Court gives no weight to this unenforceable promise”); PRH’s […]
The First Decision: Will Paramount Wait for An Appeal of Ruling Blocking Simon & Schuster Sale
There are a lot of thinly-formed hot takes following Judge Florence Pan’s ruling Monday blocking Penguin Random House’s planned acquisition of Simon & Schuster for $2.175 billion, but the WSJ points directly to what is likely the most important next step: Will S&S parent company Paramount Global agree to give Bertelsmann more time to await an appeal, or has the clock run out? The original purchase agreement was executed on November 24, 2020, and the common inference based on vague sources is that the contract had a two-year term. (A couple of people, including the WSJ, have mentioned November 21 […]