Two UK publishing executives have launched a new publisher and acquired a small press. Bedford Square Publishers is run by former Hodder & Stoughton CEO Jamie Hodder-Williams, who left the company in the spring, and former John Murray sales strategy director Laura Fletcher, and they will publish 30 titles in their first year in “reading group fiction, crime fiction, smart-thinking books and wellness.” (Hodder-Williams registered the company name in March 2022.) Hodder-Williams tells the Bookseller that the company will “offer authors an adaptable publishing model,” which may include profit sharing as well as traditional advance and royalty payments. Bedford Square […]
International News
Hachette UK Acquires Welbeck Publishing
Hachette UK announced Monday the acquisition of Welbeck Publishing Group, in an agreement executed on November 30. The company was founded by Mark Smith and Marcus Leaver in 2019, beginning with the acquisition of Carlton Books (and expanded through a number of original imprints, plus the acquisition of Eddison Books in 2020, and the launch of an Australian subsidiary with Booktopia in 2021.) Smith and Leaver said in the announcement, “The last few years have seen so much change in the world, it’s been daunting and exhilarating at the same time, and we are proud of what we have achieved. […]
European Commission Opens Investigation of Vivendi’s Lagardere Acquisition
After a preliminary review, the European Commission has formally “opened an in-depth investigation” to assess the competitive effects of Vivendi’s pending acquisition of Lagardere. They are “concerned that the proposed acquisition may reduce competition on a number of markets across the entire book value chain,” as well as in celebrity magazines (where the deal would combine Lagardere’s Paris Match with Vivendi’s Gala and Voici). Without modifications, the deal would combine the two largest book publishers in France. While Vivendi has said it is examining spinning off Editis into a separate company, that has been just talk so far. The EC […]
Nash Returns to Booktopia Board As Outgoing Chair Highlights Challenges
As set in motion earlier this year, former ceo of Australian online bookseller Booktopia Tony Nash was re-elected to the company’s board — and at Nash’s instigation, directors Fiona Pak-Poy and Judy Slatyer resigned from the board. Director Su-Ming Wong resigned in September, and current non-executive chair of the board Chris Beare will step down once a new chair is appointed. The company is still looking for a new ceo as well. In his chairman’s address to the annual meeting, Beare indicated that, “Current year trading (fiscal year 2023) volumes and revenues are down around 20 percent from the same […]
Scouting: Pan Macmillan Goes Without
Pan Macmillan in the UK announced that “it no longer requires a US-based scout” and “will part ways” with Mary Anne Thompson Associates “after a long and fruitful relationship.” They noted: “The continuously developing bonds and collaboration within the Macmillan Group of our US, UK and German editorial teams means that Pan Macmillan is alert to exciting new projects from around the globe and welcomes submissions directly.” Managing director of the adult division Jeremy Trevathan said in the announcement, “Mary Anne has been a wonderful colleague and friend to me, our publishers and the various iterations of editorial teams over […]
Storytel Gets Breathing Room With Capital Raise that Includes Otava As New Shareholder
Storytel has given itself a significant financial lift with a new share issue that raises approximately 400 million SEK (about $37 million) from its two largest shareholders — EQT Public Investment and Roxette Photo — while also bringing in Finnish media company and book publisher Otava as an investor. (In a separate announcement, Otava says they bought a 3.5 percent stake in the streaming media company, for about 125 million SEK.) Shares were priced at SEK 45.50. The board “believes [it] will strengthen the liquidity of the shares and be beneficial to the Company” and help “ensure a strong balance […]