United Independent Distributors enters administration

In the UK, the United Independent Distributors (UID) group, which comprises Marston Book Services, Orca Book Services and Eurospan, and which was acquired by the US-based Independent Publishers Group (IPG) in 2021, has entered administration, reports the Bookseller.

IPG CEO Joe Matthews said in a letter to clients that UID was ‘months away from profitability’, and that the company had received ‘several statutory demand letters from publishers and threats of winding up petitions’ after six months of ‘failed’ attempts to sell the business or partner with investors.

In an email confirming that UID had gone into administration, a spokesperson told The Bookseller: ‘Despite IPG investing heavily in restructuring the UK operations, UID was unable to turn around a highly distressed business.’

Category: International news