Digital publisher Diversion Books has set up a new division “to go deeper into the romance vertical,” EverAfter — which has launched an ebookstore and reader app on iOS and Android. “Exclusively dedicated to romance ebooks,” the store offers over 100,000 titles from traditional houses and self-published authors. They promise “flash sales, special pricing, recommendations and thousands of free ebooks” for romance fans, along with curated categories of recommend “essential titles.” The app is licensed from Page Foundry, which develops mobile ebookstore apps for clients including HarperCollins’ Book Perk; the Indie Reader Bookstore, the Chicago Tribune’s TribBooks. All titles are […]
Finance
Bonnier Acquires UK’s Igloo Books
In the UK, Bonnier Publishing has acquired Igloo Books on undisclosed terms, adding £30 million in annual sales to create a group with £85 million in sales focused on children’s books and adult fiction. The company says it will make them “one of the five largest children’s publishers in the UK, and the dominant force in children’s mass market publishing.” Parent company Bonnier Books is said to have annual revenue of £600 million. Igloo Books ceo John Styring and the full management team will remain in place, and the unit will continue to operate from their Northamptonshire offices. “The deal […]
Vigliano to Sell Agency to Burkle-Backed AGI
The NY Post reports that literary agency David Vigliano is selling his company to Ron Burkle’s Y Entertainment Group. Vigliano Associates will be integrated with Artists Group International to form AGI Vigliano Literary, with Vigliano running the literary group. (AGI describes itself as a “live entertainment agency that books an expansive roster of musicians, comedians, and sporting events worldwide.” Their lifestyle group works with television personalities and producers, focused on culinary, fashion, style, home, health & wellness.) Vigliano tells the Post, “It gives us broader reach. More and more of our clients are interested in TV and it gives us a bigger pool of potential contacts.” […]
Lagardere Boosts Stake In Russia’s Azbooka-Atticus
Hachette Livre announced that it has increased its stake in Russian publisher Azbooka-Atticus, growing their 25 percent interest to a 49 percent holding in the company.Azbooka-Atticus is Russia’s third largest publisher, publishing 2,000 titles a year, with Hachette reporting annual sales of over $50 million. The company says in the announcement, “The move reflects the successful cooperation between the two companies since Hachette Livre became a shareholder in March 2011, the vibrancy of the Russian book market, and the fine performance of Azbooka-Atticus under its new management.”
Amazon Acquires Audio Content Producer Rooftop Media for Audible
Amazon has acquired Rooftop Media, a ten-person company that records comedians in performance and licenses digital rights to thousands of hours of broadcast and recorded comedy, Reuters reports. (The acquisition was not announced by the company itself.) Rooftop will become part of Audible.com, which Rooftop ceo Will Rogers says “is obsessed with producing incredible programming.” Audible ceo Don Katz said in a statement, “Audible Studios has been conceiving and producing original content in mystery, science fiction and other genres for years…. With Rooftop’s rich comedic offerings and vast pool of comedy talent, we foresee an even more exciting selection of original spoken-word […]
Digital Startups Bought and/or Closed in 2014
With our story on the closing of Atavist Books, it’s helpful to examine the larger picture of the digital publishing start-up space. In response to a reader query, here is a look at 2014 activity, which breaks into two categories: Companies acquired and/or closed in distress or decline, and those acquired opportunistically, drawn from our comprehensive list of M&A activity throughout the year: Acquired and/or Closed In Distress in 2014 Atavist Books (closing) > IAC/Atavist Inc. Angry Robot > Etan Ilfeld Byliner.com > Vook Red Room (closed) > Wattpad Readmill (closed) > Dropbox Anobii > Mondadori Bilbary > liquidating CourseSmart > […]