A yuzu is a hybrid citrus fruit with curiously high ratio of seeds to juice — which makes it the perfect name for Barnes & Noble College’s new textbook app: “Yuzu is a next-generation digital education platform that enhances the everyday learning experience and makes college the rewarding journey it’s meant to be.” It has launched as an iOS app and web reader (but for now it only works in iOS 7, and the latest versions of Safari). A replacement for Nook Study, this is the “higher education digital product” that the company touted on their last earnings call, and […]
Education
Corporate: F+W Expands Burda Deal; OverDrive Acquisition; Osprey Games
F+W Media has expanded their licensing deal from 2013 to develop Burda Style USA, into a broader 50/50 joint venture with Burda Media “to run the brand Burda Style in the USA and Canada, as well as the UK digital activities of Burda Style.” F+W ceo David Nussbaum says in the release, “This joint venture brings together two of the largest entities serving the craft market and represents the next stage of our trusted partnership with the Burda team. Through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, F+W Media has expanded its reach in the US craft market serving tens of millions of consumers […]
People, Etc.
At Gotham/Avery, Lindsay Gordon has been promoted to associate director of publicity. Beth Ineson has been appointed to the new role of executive director, book marketing, sales, and operations at Boston Common Press, starting March 3. Most recently she was head of field sales at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ineson will oversee expansion of the marketing and distribution of efforts of the Cook’s Illustrated, America’s Test Kitchen, and Cook’s Country lines of cookbooks. Annie Kelley has returned to Schwartz & Wade Books as senior editor. Previously she was youth editor at Booklist. Simon & Schuster UK will combine its adult and […]
Cengage Announces Plan to Come Out of Bankruptcy
Following mediation by the Southern District’s US Bankruptcy Court, bankrupt Cengage says they have “reached an agreement with the company’s major financial stakeholders and creditors” to emerge from Chapter 11 once approved by the Court. As planned all along, more than $4 billion of their big debt load of $5.8 billion will go away (which still leaves them carrying substantial ongoing debt), and the company has lined up exit financing of between $1.5 billion and $1.75 billion, plus a new revolving credit line of about $250 million. The company hopes to have their plan confirmed by the court in March. […]
Flat World Raises Another $9.5 Million; Blackboard to Sell Textbooks
Over a year ago open source textbook start-up Flat World gave up their free online textbooks — and the company relocated to Washington, DC and went through a quiet period (the company “newsroom” last posted in December 2012 when they hired Christopher Etesse as ceo, taking over from founder Jeff Shelstad). The company recently closed another funding round, receiving an additional $9.5 million from previous backers (led by Bessemer Venture Partners and once again including BDMI and Penguin Random House). Founded in 2007, the company has raised close to $36 million so far. Part of the funding — and their […]