Thirteen months after first making an offer, Mondadori has won conditional approval of their 127.5 million euro purchase of RCS Mediagroup’s Rizzoli book publishing division from Italy’s Antitrust Authority. RCS told shareholders the closing of the deal is set for mid-April. In line with the preliminary recommendations we reported on at the beginning of the month, the government is requiring that Mondadori sell RCS’s Bompiani and their 51 percent share in Marsilio/Sonzogno. The commission also is requiring a variety of “behavioral measures to stimulate competition in the activity of the publishing and distribution of books” that include the “waiver of the option […]
International News
Amazon’s Misener Waffles In MFN Testimony
A UK Parliament committee has been gathering evidence on The Digital Economy, including a written complaint about Amazon’s market power filed by the Bookseller’s Association, and oral testimony from Amazon’s vp of global public policy Paul Misener. On the question of most favored nations clauses, which are under investigation by the European Commission, Misener said: “We have MFN clauses with respect to e-books and e-books alone. Those MFN clauses cover pricing and other characteristics—release dates and those sorts of things.” Despite legal remedies already imposed by authorities in the EU and courts in the US, he insists, “It is largely because of the opportunities […]
People, Etc.
At PGW, Abbey Phalen has been promoted to marketing and business development manager. Katie Gallagher will join Perseus as gift sales manager on March 15, working out of the company’s Berkeley offices. Previously she sold giftware and home décor products for Midwest CBK and was an account executive at Napoleon Appliance. At Chronicle Books, Mirabelle Korn has been promoted to assistant editor. Kathy Huck has recently left North Star Way to pursue other opportunities. She is also available freelance writing and editing. She may be reached at khuck@nyc.rr.com At the Los Angeles Times, arts and entertainment editor Laurie Ochoa is adding […]
Briefs: Wimpy Kid 11, Booker International Candidates, and More
Book 11 in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series will go on sale on November 1 in the US and “at least 20 international territories.” Last year was the first coordinated global release for Jeff Kinney’s series, and Israel and Korea have joined as new partners for the simultaneous laydown of book 11. Abrams says, “More on-sale publishing partners are expected to be announced soon.” The Booker International Prize announced its longlist, the first since the award changed to honor current releases and split the prize among authors and translators. The 13-book longlist includes The Story of the Lost Child […]
People: Thomas to Leave Springer Nature
Annette Thomas “has decided to leave” Springer Nature, where she is chief scientific officer and a member of the board. Thomas has been with Macmillan companies for 23 years (Springer Nature is the merged Macmillan Science and Education and Springer Science). Managing director, Nature Research Group Steven Inchcoombe will join the board in her place and “assume a broader role within the Springer Nature research organization,” sharing Thomas’s reporting lines with ceo Derk Haank. Thomas says in the announcement: “It has been a tremendous honor to be part of the amazing journey of Nature and Macmillan for over 20 years…. There is so much […]
People, Etc.
At Ecco, Ben Tomek has been promoted to associate marketing director and Bridget Read moves up to assistant editor. At Chronicle Books, Madeline Carruthers has been promoted to contracts and permissions associate and Yesenia Herrera moves up to contracts manager. Caryn Berg has joined Berghahn Books as archaeology editor. Previously she was an editor at Left Coast Press. Katie Salisbury is now working as a freelance editor and is available for developmental editing and consultation on nonfiction projects. Previously, she edited books for HarperCollins and Amazon Publishing; most recently, she was a product manager at Bookspan, working on the relaunch […]