Sourcebooks’ fast-growing Bloom Books imprint — which had close to $100 million in gross sales in 2023 — is expanding with two international imprints alongside partner companies at Penguin Random House. In August, the company launched Bloom Germany with the publication of a German-language edition of Sophie Lark’s Kingmakers: Year One, working with Penguin Random House Germany. They expect to publish 14 titles next year. SVP audio, strategic & digital development at Penguin Random House Germany Matthias Aichele says in the announcement, “The positive feedback from our partnership has been overwhelming, and we are thrilled to unveil a lineup of […]
International News
Small Investor Tries to Block Vivendi’s Plan to Split Itself Up
Ahead of a planned December 9 shareholders’ meeting, Vivendi announced that CIAM, an investor holding a very small position (a 0.025 percent stake), has filed suit to try to block their plan to divide the conglomerate into four separate companies. A hearing is scheduled before the Paris Commercial Court on December 4, for arguments on both an expedited suit looking to block the spin-off project, as well as an appeal of a November ruling from France’s market authority (AMF) finding that the spin-off plan does not trigger a mandatory buyout offer. As a result, the December 9 meeting and vote […]
Harper Germany Acquires Gräfe und Unzer
Harper Collins Germany will acquire guidebook publisher Gräfe und Unzer from Ganske, subject to regulatory approval. GU, which has operated for more than 300 years, will continue to be based in Munich under the Harper Collins umbrella, which will also take on the company’s distribution business, ISP Isar Sales Partner. According to a release, the acquisition more than doubles Harper’s German business, and expands its portfolio to include cookbooks, self-help, health, gardening, travel, and more. “Germany is one of our strongest markets in the international portfolio and one where we see tremendous growth opportunities. This acquisition will allow us to […]
EU Closes Investigation Into Apple’s Digital Book Sales
The European Union has closed its antitrust investigation into Apple’s “anticompetitive behavior” blocking competing ebook and audiobook apps from selling directly within the app without paying Apple’s 30 percent tax. The complaint focused on Apple imposing “the mandatory use of its own proprietary in-app purchase system” and the company’s restrictions on allowing other apps to “inform iPhone and iPad users of alternative cheaper purchasing possibilities available outside the App Store.” The matter was closed because the unnamed complainant, a distributor of e-books and audiobooks, withdrew the complaint that it launched in 2020. “The closure of an investigation is not a […]
DK Acquires Canelo
DK has acquired UK-based digital publisher Canelo, founded by Iain Millar, Michael Bhaskar and Nick Barreto in 2015. The company says the acquisition is part of a plan “to broaden its publishing scope, adding Canelo’s thriving fiction lines to its world-renowned illustrated, non-fiction and children’s fiction titles.” DK ceo Paul Kelly said, “This partnership is a strategic evolution for DK, integrating Canelo’s renowned author-first approach and proven genre expertise with our global platform. Together, we’ll engage new readers and support talented authors by creating compelling, accessible fiction and non-fiction with a reach that spans DK’s global distribution networks. We see […]
VBK To Test AI Translation Into English
Dutch publisher VBK, acquired earlier this year by Simon & Schuster, will test out AI translation of their books into English, the Bookseller reports. According to the Bookseller, a small number of books are being translated, and only in cases when the English rights haven’t been sold. A VBK spokesperson said, “We are working on a limited experiment with some Dutch authors, for their books to be translated into English language using AI. There will be one editing phase, and authors have been asked to give permission for this. “We are not creating books with AI, it all starts and […]