Thursday, July 07, 2011

Hachette Invests In Russian Trade Publisher

PublishersLunch
Hachette Livre has confirmed the execution of a deal to acquire just over 25 percent of Russian trade publishing group Azbooka-Atticus. The publisher is owned by A&NN Group, which is controlled by Alexander Mamut (who recently bought Waterstone's in the UK). With sales of $43 million in 2010, Azbooka-Atticus releases 1,500 titles a year. Hachette says it ranks third in fiction, nonfiction, and children's books.

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 sale process shortly."
Times

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