Germany's Bertelsmann To Buy Simon & Schuster for US$2.175 Billion - Publishing Perspectives

Today Panzer decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. With no digging at all our speedy kitty found a post about Simon and Schuster and Bertelsmann.

According to the post by Porter Anderson, it was announced today that Penguin Random House (PRH) will buy Simon and Schuster for $2.175 Billion. PRH is actually owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Writers groups immediately asked for regulatory review of the sale. In the US the Authors Guild expressed its opposition to the sale on the grounds the merger would unfairly impact authors with less markets for their work. In Canada the Association of Canadian Publishers asked for a review of the sale on the grounds of "whether the sale violates the Competition Act ...". At the end of the post there are links to other information about the various publishing companies.

Who's getting too big now?

Panzer says, "Hmm ... People complain about Amazon getting too big? What about Bertelsmann buying up traditional publishers? Two now. Who's next?"

Note: This is a humongous post. Bring a thermos of tea, eight muffins, six chocolate chip cookies (biscuits), and a brownie for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Bertelsmann

 

 

 

 

Bertelsmann and Penguin Random House: Climate Neutrality by 2030 - Publishing Perspectives

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, our adventuresome kitty decided to make a stop at the Publishing Perspectives site. There he found an interesting post. While not exactly about publishing, it is about the international publishing/media giant Bertelsmann.

Let's leave something good for our kittens.

According to the post by Publishing Perspectives Editor in Chief Porter Anderson, on Monday Thomas Rabe, chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann, announced the company will be climate-neutral by 2030. On Tuesday Markus Dohle, global CEO of Penguin Random House (PRH), announced to employees that PRH has already switched 98 percent of the company's paper purchases to certified (sustainable forests) mills. PRH will also be using 100 percent green energy by 2022. Penguin Random House is part of Bertelsmann. The post includes information on exactly how Bertelsmann plans to reach its goal by 2030. There's also a short video at the end of the post.

Panzer says, "This little kitty wonders when other publishers will follow Bertelsmann lead?"

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Bertelsmann and Penguin Random House

Pearson Sells Last 25% of PRH to Bertelsmann - Publishers Weekly

Four days until Christmas. Then watch out.

Today as Panzer was trying to see what was under the Christmas tree, What's His Name rudely pushed him out of the presents. Not wanting to get on Santa's naughty list our rule-abiding kitty got into the Panzermobile for a trip into the Catosphere. Tootling around, he decided to make a stop at the Publishers Weekly site. Taking his frustrations out on the posts pile there, he dug around until he found one on Pearson's sale of its shares in publisher Penguin Random House

According to Ed Nawotka's post, Pearson has sold its last shares in Penguin Random House (PRH) to Bertelsmann for $675 million. Pearson has owned 25 percent of PRH since 2017 when it previously sold 22 percent of its shares to Bertelsmann. Bartelsmann no owns 100 percent of PRH and all its publishing assets. The post contains links to other information about PRH and it's future publishing plans.

Panzer says, "Bertelsmann is becoming a worldwide publishing behemoth."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Bertelsmann

Bertelsmann Ups PRH Stake to 75% - Publishers Weekly

I'm feeling better today.

Today, Panzer made a short trip into the Catosphere. Our recovering kitty boy made a quick stop at the Publishers Weekly site. With a little digging he found a post about Bertelsmann increasing their holdings in PRH (Penguin Random House).

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Bertelsmann intends to increase the company's controlling stake in PRH (Penguin Random House) to 75 percent. When Penguin merged with Random House in 2013 Bertelsmann acquired 53 percent and Pearson 47 percent of the new entity PRH (Penguin Random House). Bertelsmann will acquire an additional 22 percent from Pearson for $968 million. Pearson will retain 25 percent. The deal won't be completed until September, 2017.

Panzer says, "The post does mention Pearson can't sell any portion of their remaining ownership for 18 months. This little kitty would be very surprised if there wasn't also a little clause in the agreement that Bertelsmann has the right of first refusal if Pearson wants to sell."

Note: This is a shortish-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post, tootle over to Bertelsmann

Bertelsmann seeks partner to buy Penguin Random House - Reuters

It's just something humans do.

Panzer made a trip to the Reuters site today. Digging around there, our inquiring kitty found a new post about book publisher Penguin Random House.

According to the post by Harro Ten Wolde and Arno Schuetze, Penguin Random House majority owner Bertelsmann  (53 percent) is looking for a financial partner to help in a buyout of minority owner Pearson (47 percent). Pearson has not directly stated they intend to sell their ownership, but Bertelsmann wants to be ready in the event they do. Apparently, it will be 2017 before Pearson makes any kind of decision.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... I'll never understand human ownership. You buy something so you can sell it in a couple of years. Cats ... We get it ... We eat it. That's it."

Note: This is a two cups of tea read.

To read the post, tootle over to Bertelsmann

Amazon Has Big Competition In Germany

300,000 ebooks? Let's take a look.

Panzer was out taking a leisurely trip around the Catosphere and he happened to stop in at Melville House. Our big bad kitty traveler found a post about a new competitor for Amazon in Germany.

According to a post by Sal Robinson, the players in the new competitor are the German booksellers Thalia, Welbid, Hugendubel, multi-media company Bertelsmann, and the telecom company Deutsche Telekom.  The combine has developed an ebook distribution platform and an e-reader called the Tolino Shine.

Included in the post is a link to the new distribution site, so you can check out the platform and e-reader.

Panzer says, "Watch out Amazon. The new site has twice as many books as Amazon.de."

To read the full post, tootle over to Amazon competitor