Longtime children’s book agent Elizabeth Harding has acquired Curtis Brown from Tim Knowlton and Ginger Knowlton. Tim Knowlton will “step away from full-time work… sometime soon” to serve as chairman emeritus “to help with the transition.” Ginger Knowlton will remain with the agency and continue to represent her authors. Tim Knowlton says in the announcement, “When Elizabeth first approached us about taking over the company, I nearly slapped myself in the head. It was a moment of clarity–Elizabeth’s vision and expertise make her the ideal choice, and I know Curtis Brown will thrive with her at the helm.” PL took […]
M&A
Disney and Webtoon Will Launch New Digital Comics Platform
Disney has partnered with Webtoon on a new digital platform and app that will make more than 35,000 comics from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, Pixar and 20th Century Studios available for a single subscription. The platform will be built and operated by Webtoon and expand on Disney’s existing digital comics service, Marvel Unlimited, with Disney+ subscribers getting access to select comics. Disney will also acquire a 2% equity interest in Webtoon Entertainment. Webtoon’s own content will also be showcased on that platform, and certain comics will be localized for Webtoons users in Korea and Japan. The initial announcement of the partnership between […]
Readerlink to Acquire Baker & Taylor
Readerlink Distribution Services will acquire “the business and substantially all the assets” of Baker & Taylor, expecting to close the deal on or around September 26. In 2015, Readerlink acquired B&T’s marketing services business and publishing imprints (which became the Printers Row Publishing Group). In a statement, Readerlink noted that they will retain “most of the current Baker & Taylor management team and employees,” and that B&T ceo Aman Kochar will continue to lead the division, reporting to Readerlink president and ceo Dennis Abboud. In late 2021, Kochar led a buyout of Baker & Taylor from Follett. “We believe that […]
WH Smith Sells Funky Pigeon Greeting Card Brand
UK retailer WH Smith has sold its greeting card business, Funky Pigeon, to Card Factory. The businesses has an enterprise value of £26 million on a cash and debt-free basis and an equity value of £24 million. After transaction costs, the company expects to make £21 million in net cash, which “will be used to improve the Group’s net debt position.” The sale is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. “This Transaction is consistent with the Group’s strategic focus on travel retail,” a press release notes. “The Group is now a […]
Vivendi Denies Acquiring Lagardere Before EU Approval
The European Commission sent a Statement of Objections to Vivendi, asserting a “preliminary view that the company breached the [EU] notification requirement and the ‘standstill obligation,'” suggesting that the French company may have breached EU merger rules by asserting control over aspects of Lagardere in 2023, before the commission gave approval to the proposed merger. The investigation was opened in July 2023. The EU’s approval process hinged on Vivendi selling their publishing and magazine businesses, including book publisher Editis, which the EC also had to approve. The Commission alleges that, before they approved Vivendi’s divestment of Editis, Vivendi was already […]
Harper to Acquire Crunchyroll Manga in France and Germany; Plus A Merger of Indie Publishers
Harper Collins will acquire global anime brand Crunchyroll‘s manga publishing operations of in France and Germany. The transaction is set to close in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory approval. After the deal is finalized, Hideki Iyama-Desseigne will lead the team, reporting to Chantal Restivo-Alessi at Harper. Harper ceo Brian Murray says in the announcement, “We are thrilled to expand our manga portfolio in Europe, building on our already successful Japanese business. As the only major western publisher operating in Japan, this acquisition strengthens our expertise and capabilities in this fast-growing category. This is a significant step toward broadening […]