Mergers & Acquisitions

The private equity firm KKR has signed a definitive agreement to acquire OverDrive in a deal announced on Christmas Eve.

B&N’s purchase by Elliott Adviors was the largest purchase in a quiet year for acquisitions in the book business.

Peterson’s Publishing has acquired the more than 800 titles of Barron's Educational Series Publishing. Ingram-owned Two Rivers Distribution is now handing sales and distribution for the company.

The merger of Simon & Schuster parent company CBS with Viacom was completed yesterday afternoon. The new ViacomCBS will have combined sales of about $28 billion.

Scribd said the new investment will be used to support growth and product innovation as well as enhance operations.

The company said the book group has annual sales of about $200 million.

Vesuvian Media Group, a books-to-film multimedia company, has acquired Black Spot Books, which has a growing list of adult and young adult titles.

Conari Press, an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser founded in 1987 that focuses on categories such as spirituality and personal growth, was acquired by the Miami-based Mango Publishing in a deal that closed earlier this month.

The Christian multimedia company 1517 Media whose imprints include Beaming Books, Fortress Press, and Augsburg Books, has acquired Lutheran University Press,

In a deal that closed September 13, Chicago Review Press acquired Amberjack Publishing. Based in Eagle, Idaho, Amberjack has a backlist of 63 titles, including 'Girl Boner' (2017).