Attending the Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Liberty Media ceo John Malone spoke publicly about the potential Barnes & Noble buyout for the first time since the possible merger was announced back in May. “It would be a bit of a flier for us, on whether or not Barnes & Noble can play competitively with the likes of Apple and Amazon in the digital transformation,” he said. “That’s really the bet.” Malone characterized the steep decline in brick-and-mortar bookselling as akin to those who survive a smallpox epidemic: “If you’re still alive, well, maybe you got a chance […]
People, Awards, Etc.: Johnson Prize, Cleary, and More
Frank Dikotter’s MAO’S GREAT FAMINE won the UK’s richest nonfiction book award, the Samuel Johnson Prize. The judges called it a”meticulous account of a brutal manmade calamity is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the history of the 20th century.” (Bloomsbury and Walker published it in both the UK and US.) Bookmasters has hired Ernesto Martinez as manager of Spanish-language products and programs, overseeing their growing Spanish-language book and content services division. For the past five years, he was Borders’ Spanish language book buyer. Copyright Clearance Center has hired author and high tech industry veteran Haralambos “Babis” Marmanis as […]
Assange Memoir Reportedly Near Cancellation
Julian Assange’s memoir, once set for a release last April by Canongate and then delayed further last month, now may not be published at all. The Guardian quotes “publishing sources” as saying the book won’t be released “at least in its original form” after the Wikileaks founder “indicated he no longer wished to write the kind of book that was initially envisaged.” It appears Assange thinks the manuscript as ghostwritten by Andrew O’Hagan “could give ammunition to US prosecutors, whom he fears may seek his extradition on terrorist charges relating to WikiLeaks disclosures.” A spokeswoman for Canongate told the paper […]
The Deal On Border’s Sale Deal
As readers know, we’ve been trying to wrap our heads around the stalking horse offer for the Najafi Companies to “buy” Borders for $215 million, which sounds more like an offer to “take” the company at little or no net cost. Yesterday the company filed an asset purchase agreement with the SEC, along with the provisional liquidation agreement with Hilco, Gordon Brothers and others in case the sale is not completed, which shed a little additional light on the financials. Indeed, Borders anticipates that an outright liquidation would produce more cash. The liquidators guarantee a minimum of 72 percent of […]
People, Etc.
Robin Harvie has been appointed as senior commissioning editor and digital publisher at Aurum Press in the UK. Harvie is currently non-fiction commissioning editor & digital editor at Harper UK’s 4th Estate. He will focus on Arum’s sports list as well as leading and managing digital strategy companywide. Ruta Rimas has joined Simon & Schuster Children’s Atheneum and Margaret K. McElderry imprints as associate editor, reporting to Justin Chanda. She was at Balzer & Bray. Airie Stuart has left Palgrave Macmillan after seven years with the company, most recently as svp and publisher. Christopher Boucher, author of debut novel HOW TO […]
eNews: Macmillan to Sell MPS Stake; Apps Are Adjusting to New iOS Rules; Another Subscription Offer
Macmillan is putting their controlling 61 percent stake in the publishing solutions and services unit MPS up for sale. The Times of India says the Bangalore-based company employs about 1,000 people, but the company’s site says they have 2,500 employees worldwide. Standalone 2009 sales were approximately $30 million. The Times says “MPS has attracted interests from IT services players as well as financial investors. Macmillan’s divestment could help the company scale up operations winning more third-party businesses.” They say the sector has been active for M&A lately, adding that “there is also speculation that Aptara Solutions may launch a stake […]