After a preliminary review, the European Commission has formally “opened an in-depth investigation” to assess the competitive effects of Vivendi’s pending acquisition of Lagardere. They are “concerned that the proposed acquisition may reduce competition on a number of markets across the entire book value chain,” as well as in celebrity magazines (where the deal would combine Lagardere’s Paris Match with Vivendi’s Gala and Voici). Without modifications, the deal would combine the two largest book publishers in France. While Vivendi has said it is examining spinning off Editis into a separate company, that has been just talk so far. The EC […]
M&A
Charlesbridge Publishing Acquires Move Books
Charlesbridge Publishing has acquired Move Books, a children’s imprint with a “mission to move more boys to read with high-interest middle-grade fiction.” The deal includes Move backlist titles, which will be distributed under Charlesbridge starting April 2023. Going forward, the company will launch Move founder Eileen Robinson joined Charlesbridge in October as editorial director of Charlesbridge Moves, a new middle-grade imprint that will launch in 2024. Robinson will also edit board books and picture books for the Charlesbridge list as executive dditor. She said, “Charlesbridge Moves will excite middle-grade and chapter-book readers with adventure, mystery, and fun, giving them the […]
Storytel Gets Breathing Room With Capital Raise that Includes Otava As New Shareholder
Storytel has given itself a significant financial lift with a new share issue that raises approximately 400 million SEK (about $37 million) from its two largest shareholders — EQT Public Investment and Roxette Photo — while also bringing in Finnish media company and book publisher Otava as an investor. (In a separate announcement, Otava says they bought a 3.5 percent stake in the streaming media company, for about 125 million SEK.) Shares were priced at SEK 45.50. The board “believes [it] will strengthen the liquidity of the shares and be beneficial to the Company” and help “ensure a strong balance […]
PRH Acquires Remaining Stake in PRH Grupo Editorial Portugal
Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial announced Friday it has agreed to purchase the remaining minority stake of 15.6% of PRH Grupo Editorial Portugal from Manuel de Freitas and his family. De Freitas had retained that share when selling the 20|20 Editora group to PRH in 2021. With that transaction, de Freitas leaves the company, where he served as general director. Editorial continues to be run by Clara Capitão, with Pedro Veiga Ferreira, as director of financial, logistics and systems director, both reporting to Patxi Beascoa.
Imprints: Erewhon, Golden Notebook
Kensington Publishing has acquired sci-fi/fantasy publisher Erewhon Books, which will continue as an imprint of Kensington. Publisher Sarah Guan and her team will stay with the line. (Co-founder Liz Gorinsky left Erewhon in March.) Having recently moved distributed to PGW from Workman, Erewhon’s titles will be taken over by Kensington’s distributor Penguin Random House Publisher Services next year. Kensington CEO Steve Zacharius says in the announcement, “The diverse, high-quality list Erewhon has built and the level of support they’ve been able to offer their authors as a small, but effective and passionate team is impressive. It also very much aligns […]
Acquisitions: Harper Focus Buys Cider Mill Press
HarperCollins Focus has acquired Cider Mill Press, a publisher of gift books specializing in “cookbooks, elegant wine and spirits projects, humor books, and children’s classics.” Cider Mill Press and children’s imprint Applesauce Press will become imprints under HarperCollins Focus. Cider Mill founder John Whalen Jr. will continue on with the company. John Whalen III joins HarperCollins Focus as vp, publisher of both Cider Mill Press and Applesauce Press. He was previously responsible for all operational oversight of the imprints. Laura Minchew, senior vp, group publisher for HarperCollins Focus Children’s and Gift books will oversee the Cider Mill publishing operations within […]