HarperCollins has bought out Ediouro, its partner in HarperCollins Brasil, to take sole ownership of the venture. Harper Brasil is also moving its headquarters to Rua da Quitanda in Rio de Janeiro’s financial center. CEO Brian Murray said in the announcement: “While we have enjoyed a successful relationship with Ediouro, we are very pleased to take full ownership of HarperCollins Brasil. We see Brazil as an area of growth both for titles from our global imprints being published into the region, as well as for local authors. We are excited about this new structure and the new home for the organization.” […]
Finance
Briefs
The Costco Pennie’s Pick for January is Amy Stewart‘s Girl Waits With Gun (HMH) while the company’s book club pick for the month is The Tumbling Turner Sisters (Gallery) by Juliette Fay. Updating our very best of the best books of 2016 report, Jacqueline Woodson is represented now by Kathleen Nishimoto at William Morris Endeavor. Also, USA Today weighed in with their top 10 books of the year (now added to our vote count), also naming Colson Whitehead as their author of the year. Announcements The Ward & Balkin Agency is being acquired by Roam Agency as of July 1, 2017, when […]
PRH UK Returns to Negotiate New Collective Agreement
After a tumultuous week of stories that do not fully align, Penguin Random House UK and the two unions representing some of their employees are talking again, and reporting progress towards a new agreement. On Wednesday, PRH UK and the unions Unite and the National Union of Journalists issued a joint statement saying that they “held a positive meeting today at which all parties agreed to continue talks with the aim of securing a new collective agreement for the combined Penguin Random House UK business. While some elements of the agreement in discussion are yet to be finalized and agreed […]
People, Etc.
Parenting Press is being acquired by Chicago Review Press (which already distributes the press through its IPG unit) effective January 1, and will continue as an imprint of its new parent company. Chicago Review Press publisher Cynthia Sherry will oversee the list from the 37-year-old practical parenting and children’s book publisher. Parenting Press president and founder Elizabeth Crary plans to retire from publishing but will continue her work as a parent educator and author, and none of the company’s staff will stay on after the acquisition. “The acquisition of Parenting Press by Chicago Review Press is a dream come true for a […]
CEO Holiday Greetings, from Simon & Schuster
In keeping with tradition, publishing ceos are thanking employees and celebrating the year’s accomplishments through year-end letters. The first publicly released letter is from Simon & Schuster chief executive Carolyn Reidy, noting “a tumultuous year in both the United States and around the world” while still observing that “it feels as if we are in a period of relative stability in the publishing marketplace.” Reidy confirms that their deal to acquire Adams Media closed “shortly before Thanksgiving” as scheduled and notes the new division will be integrated into company infrastructure and systems by January 31. In a review of the house’s top titles she leads with […]
CBS and Viacom Won’t Merge After All
More than two months after National Amusements, which owns 80 percent of the stock in both CBS (parent company of Simon & Schuster) and Viacom, urged the two companies to consider a merger, that potential deal has now been withdrawn. CNBC reported that Shari Redstone, vice chair for both companies, “is reversing course and now backs Viacom CEO Bob Bakish and his plan to bring the company back to prominence.” The WSJ added that CBS head Leslie Moonves “never appeared to be more than lukewarm on the idea and repeatedly told investors that CBS was a strong stand-alone company”, adding […]