Draft2Digital will purchase Smashwords, combining the two self-publishing platforms under the Draft2Digital name., and the deal is expected to close March 1. According to a release, both companies are profitable and debt-free. Draft2Digital ceo and co-founder Kris Austin will be ceo of the combined company. Smashwords founder and former ceo Mark Coker will join the […]
M&A
Lakeside To Buy Phoenix Color
Lakeside Book Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of specialty printer Phoenix Color Corp. from ALJ Regional Holdings. Subject to regulatory and stockholder approval, the deal is expected to go through in the second quarter of 2022. Phoenix has plants in Maryland and Indiana, manufacturing book components, children’s books, […]
Waterstones Reportedly In Talks to Acquire Blackwell’s
Waterstones is in discussions to purchase Blackwell’s, Sky News reports. The 18-store UK chain confirmed it is in a period of exclusivity with an unnamed purchaser to negotiate a deal. Waterstones is said to be pursuing the acquisition on a solvent basis, and it is expected that such a deal would require regulatory approval. The […]
Follett Sold to Private Investors
College bookstore operator Follett Higher Education (and parent corporate entity Follett Corporation) has been sold to a group of private investors led by Jefferson River Capital, a private investment firm that is the family office of Tony James, recently retired executive vice chairman of Blackstone. Terms of the deal were not announced. Just as reported last August, […]
Donnelly Says Mystery Bidder Withdrew Bid; Admits Ransomware Attack
The drawn out battle to buy RR Donnelly appears to be over, as the company announced that the unidentified “strategic party” has withdrawn its higher bid of $11.50 a share. That leaves the company headed for shareholder approval of the $10.85 a share deal from Chatham Asset Management. The strategic party “did not provide specific […]
M&A: Hachette Livre Buys Out Bragelonne; Toon to Astra; Infosec to Cengage
Hachette Livre has acquired the remaining shares of genre publisher Bragelonne and Bragelonne Games, building on their minority investment from 2019. The terms of the deal were not announced. Founded in 2000, Bragelonne has a catalog of over 4,000 titles — including Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher books. Hachette will make Bragelonne part of their illustrated division, […]