The Copyright Clearance Center has acquired Ringgold, which provides persistent identifiers (PIDs)–metadata that is unique to a person, organization, article, etc, particularly used in scholarly communications. The terms of the deal were not announced. “Globally unique PIDs are essential for creating connections between articles, researchers, institutions, and funders,” CCC president and ceo Tracey Armstrong said. “We look forward to collaborating with Ringgold and industry stakeholders to further invest in identifiers to power interoperability, and data-driven applications. In particular, we will collaborate with partners to infuse PIDs earlier in the research lifecycle, addressing market demand for consistent use of PIDs in […]
M&A
M&A: Sterling Acquires Knock Knock
Sterling Publishing has acquired gift company Knock Knock, which includes the brand Em & Friends. Knock Knock will be overseen by Union Square & Co. publisher and cco Emily Meehan, “with the operations and distribution of Knock Knock titles remaining business as usual,” according to a release. Knock Knock founder and ceo Jen Bilik and Em & Friends founder Emily McDowell report to Meehan as creative consultants. VP sales & operations Jim Papscoe and vp, associate publisher Craig Hetzer will “both focus on the day-to-day operations of the overall business” and will also report to Meehan.
Sourcebooks Acquires Duopress
Sourcebooks has acquired Duopress, a “a minority-owned independent publisher of innovative, high-quality, and affordable books and gifts.” The Duopress list includes “board books, regional board books, counting books, and doodle books,” as well as nonfiction middle-grade titles and more. Duopress founder Mauricio Velázquez de León said, “I’ve always admired the energy and publishing IQ of Dominique Raccah and her extraordinary team at Sourcebooks, and we are incredibly excited to start this new chapter for duopress.”
Apollo Has Been Trying to Acquire Pearson
Private equity company Apollo Global Management has tried twice to purchase educational publisher Pearson since last November. Pearson declined an 800 pence per share in November and another offer of 854.2 pence per share on March 7, finding that Apollo “significantly undervalued the Company and its future prospects.” On Friday, following online rumors, Apollo said formally that it “notes the recent market speculation in relation to Pearson and confirms it is in the preliminary stages of evaluating a possible cash offer by certain of Apollo’s affiliated funds” to buy Pearson. Under London Stock Exchange rules, Apollo has until April 8 […]
M&A: Sterling Acquires Boxer Books
Sterling Publishing completed a deal to acquire London-based children’s book publisher Boxer Books. The acquisition includes all of Boxer’s backlist and frontlist titles. The imprint will keep its name under Union Square & Co., which previously distributed Boxer Books in the US. Boxer publisher David Bennett will continue to manage the imprint, reporting to Union Square cco and publisher Emily Meehan. “We are proud to be providing a new home for Boxer Books and publisher David Bennett. I’ve long admired his curated approach to children’s book publishing,” Meehan said in a release. “His titles explore imaginative ideas and concepts, all […]
Waterstones to Acquire Blackwell’s
Waterstones announced on Monday that it has entered a deal to acquire academic and specialist bookstore chain Blackwell’s, for an undisclosed sum, with funds advised by Elliott Advisors. Blackwell’s, which has 18 shops across the UK and operates Heffers in Cambridge, has been family-owned since 1879. The acquisition now brings Blackwell’s under the same ownership as Barnes & Noble and UK bookshop Foyles. “Blackwell’s and Heffers are amongst the most illustrious names in bookselling, a legacy for which we have the utmost respect,” Waterstones’ managing director James Daunt said. “We greatly look forward to working alongside the booksellers at Blackwell’s […]