Hachette UK has acquired notebook publisher Paperblanks. The terms of the deal were not announced. Paperblanks, which is headquartered in Dublin and has co-branding partnerships with the Getty Museum and New York Public Library, will operate as a standalone business under Hachette UK, reporting to deputy group ceo Richard Kitson. Paperblanks founder and ceo Victor Marks will step down, and regional ceo and group cfo Graham Conway will become ceo. Hachette UK ceo David Shelley said: “I believe that there are fantastic opportunities for us as a book publisher in acquiring and developing adjunct businesses. Since we acquired Laurence King […]
M&A
CAA-ICM Merger Postponed Amid Justice Inquiry
CAA’s acquisition of ICM, originally planned to be completed by the end of 2021, has been delayed as the Department of Justice’s antitrust division questions the deal’s “impact on the entertainment industry,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. They cite “multiple sources familiar with the matter.” The parties now hope to close the merger in Q2 2022.
Acquisitions: RBmedia, Chicago Review Press
RBmedia has acquired German audiobook publisher ABOD, which will supply titles to its newly launched German-language audio brand RBmedia Verlag. ABOD licenses and produces audio titles from German publishers, focusing on nonfiction, primarily politics and economics. ABOD founder and ceo Rudi Singer, said, “Since founding ABOD in 2012, I have put much work and care into building a first-rate audio catalog. With RBmedia’s vision, I am confident that we will see these efforts continue to gain momentum.” Chicago Review Press has acquired LGBTQ+ fiction publisher Interlude Press, including a catalog of nearly 100 titles, and its YA imprint Duet Books. […]
2021: The Year In Mergers
It was a blockbuster year for mergers and acquisitions, even with the headline-making lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice to try to block Penguin Random House‘s deal to acquire Simon & Schuster. Prospective sellers across the publishing landscape read the environment and made big deals, often at healthy multiples. With growing sales, strong profits, and impressive resales, publishing is actually looking investable to a wider range of players. And there was plenty of notable activity beyond the roster of straight acquisitions. Scholastic experienced a dramatic change in control following the abrupt death of Dick Robinson, and surprising designation of […]
Acquisitions: Dark Horse Media Agrees to Sale to Embracer Group
Swedish video game holding company Embracer Group plans to buy comic book publisher and entertainment company Dark Horse Media, in a deal that is expected to close next year. Dark Horse’s 300 intellectual properties include The Mask, Time Cop, Father’s Day, and Ghost and it licenses Star Wars, Avatar the Last Airbender, Stranger Things, Witcher, and more. It also owns a retail business called Things From Another World selling graphic novels, comic books, and collectibles. Eighty percent of the shares of Dark Horse will be acquired from a Chinese investor, and the remaining 20 percent are from founder and CEO Mike Richardson […]
Acquisitions: ABC-CLIO to Bloomsbury, Wuxiaworld to Radish
Bloomsbury has acquired academic publisher ABC-CLIO for $22.9 million (£17.3 million). ABC-CLIO will become part of Bloomsbury’s Academic and Professional division within Bloomsbury USA. In 2020, ABC-CLIO reported sales of $14.7 million (£11.5 million), and profit before tax of $1.2 million (£0.9 million). Outside of integration and acquisition costs, the company is expected to add £2.1 million in revenue and £0.3 million in profit before tax to Bloomsbury’s current fiscal year, which ends on February 28. “ABC-CLIO is a strong addition to Bloomsbury USA, our Academic and Professional division and Bloomsbury Digital Resources,” Bloomsbury ceo Nigel Newton said. “This acquisition […]