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

Pearson Closes DRM - Free eBookstore, Will Delete All eBooks From Customers' Account - The Digital Reader

Today, Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard crying and wailing. Flowing all the noise took our brave kitty boy to The Digital Reader site. There he found a post about Pearson's ebookstore closing.

The post by The Digital Reader founder Nate Hoffelder states Pearson intends to close their MyPearsonStore.com DRM-free ebookstore on April 30, 2018, Customers need to download their ebook purchases before then as all customer accounts and purchases will be deleted on that date. There's a copy of Pearson's announcement included in The Digital Reader post.

One less online bookstore.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... Another online ebookstore closes their doors."

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

To read the post, tootle over to Pearson eBookstore

Books World alarmed by Pearson's sale of stake in Penguin Random House - The Guardian

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere just minding his own cat business when he heard crying and gnashing of teeth coming from up ahead. Following all the noise took our kitty boy to The Guardian site. It didn't take any digging at all to find the news about Pearson's PRH sale is what everyone was so nervous about. Yesterday Panzer told you about Pearson's announcement.

Let's see what happens.

According to the post by Danuta Kean, many authors and agents are unsure about the consequences of Pearson's sale of their partial ownership in publisher Penguin Random House. The post speculates partner Bartelsmann will acquire 22 percent of Pearson's 47 percent and the remainder will be acquired by private equity. Bartelsmann will then be the majority stakeholder with 75 percent. Some authors and agents are worried Bartelsmann may be more interested in profit margins now than previously.

Panzer says, "Inquiring kitties want to know: What private equity will acquire that remaining 25 percent?"

Note: This is a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g post. Bring a thermos of tea and half a dozen muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to read Panzer's earlier post about the Pearson sale as well, you'll need an extra muffin or two.

To read the post, tootle over to Pearson Penguin Random House sale

To read Panzer's post from yesterday about Pearson's PRH sale, tootle over to Penguin Random House

Pearson to Sell Stake in Penguin Random House - Publishers' Weekly (PW)

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Publishers' Weekly (PW) site. There our traveling kitty boy found a post about publisher Penguin Random House.

According to the post by Jim Milliot, Pearson plans to sell their partial ownership in Penguin Random House (PRH). Penguin Random House was formed in 2013 with the merger of Pearson's Penguin and Bertelsmann's Random House. Currently, Pearson holds 47 percent and Bartelsmann holds 53 percent of Penguin Random House. Bartelsmann has the right of first refusal in a proposed sale and has indicated they would be interested in purchasing Pearson's stake if the terms were acceptable. (This information was also reported in a longer post at The New York Times site by Michael J. de la Merced.)

What will the terms be?

Panzer says, "This will be interesting to see what happens if "the terms" aren't acceptable."

This is a short-medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to read The New York Times post as well, bring a second cup of tea and muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Pearson

To read The New York Times post, tootle over to Penguin Random House

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

Barnes & Noble Buys Nook Stake

I wonder. Will it? or Won't it?

When Panzer went out in the Catosphere today he discovered that while he was buying presents for the holidays, Barnes & Noble was busy buying their own present.

Turns out according to Jim Milliot of Publishers' Weekly, B&N was busy buying Pearson's holdings in Nook Media. B&N now owns 100% of Nook Media. This will allow B&N to spin off the Nook Media portion as a separate entity in the near future.

Panzer says, "Hmmm. I wonder, can Nook survive on its own?"

To read the full post, tootle over to B&N buys Nook stake