Mergers & Acquisitions

U.K.-based Welbeck Publishing was formed in 2019 by publishing veterans Mark Smith, whose credits include cofounding and serving as CEO of Quercus Books, and Marcus Leaver, one-time CEO of Sterling Publishing and Quarto Group. Sales in 2022 are expected to top £25million.

With is acquisition of Move Books, Charlesbridge plans to launch a new middle grade imprint called Charlesbridge Moves, helmed by Move Books founder Eileen Robinson.

Penguin Random House’s attempt to acquire Simon & Schuster has officially ended. The news came in a filing by S&S parent company Paramount Global with the SEC, which said that, in accordance with the purchase agreement terms, it had terminated the deal.

Kensington Publishing has acquired Erewhon Books, an independent publisher dedicated to literary speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, for an undisclosed price.

Three Kansas City businessmen who also own Made in KC have acquired the 47-year-old indie bookstore. Made in KC operates 16 outlets that sell the handiwork of local artists, and while Rainy Day will operate separately from the core business, the aim is to use those other locations to drive business to the bookstore.

In a deal that involves more than 500 titles, Turner Publishing has acquired West Margin Press from the Ingram Content Group.

Landover, Md.-based audiobook publisher RBmedia has continued its push in the international market with the acquisition of John Verlag’s German-language audiobook catalog.

HarperCollins has acquired Maine independent publisher Cider Mill Press. Cider Mill will become part of the HarperCollins Focus group.

Rowman & Littlefield has acquired the adult division of Maine's Tilbury House Publishers in a deal that adds 70 regional titles to R&L's list.

With the employee acquisition of the 50% stake in the publisher it did not already own, Gibbs Smith is now a 100% ESOP.