ACCC undertaking ‘informal review’ of proposed Penguin, Random House merger
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is undertaking an ‘informal review’ of the proposed merger of Penguin and Random House. The ACCC is currently seeking ‘comments ... from interested...
Pearson purchases stake in Barnes & Noble’s Nook
Pearson has invested US$89.5 million (approximately A$85 million) in US bookseller Barnes & Noble’s ebook device and retail brand Nook Media ‘in order to gain favourable distribution for its education...
ACCC ‘aware’ of Penguin, Random House proposed merger
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has told Bookseller+Publisher that it is ‘aware’ of the proposed merger between Penguin and Random House. An ACCC spokesperson said that ‘if the...
‘Business as usual’ at Random House, Penguin following merger announcement; industry responds
Random House Australia and New Zealand have told booksellers that it will be ‘business as usual’ for Random House and Penguin until the companies’ plans to merge have been approved...
Random House, Penguin to merge
Pearson and Bertelsmann have announced that they will merge the Penguin and Random House businesses. Bertelsmann said in a statement on Monday 29 October that the new business will be called...
News Corp interested in Penguin
HarperCollins parent company News Corporation has indicated it is interested in acquiring Penguin, reports the Sunday Times. News Corporation chairman and chief executive Rupert Murdoch is reported to have indicated...
Merger talks between Penguin, Random House confirmed
In the UK, Pearson has confirmed that it is discussing ‘a possible combination of Penguin and Random House’ with Bertelsmann. Pearson said in a statement that the two publishers ‘have...
Pearson acquires EmbanetCompass
Pearson has announced it has acquired online learning services company EmbanetCompass for US$650 million (approximately A$633 million). In a statement, the publisher said the acquisition built on Pearson’s ‘leading position...
Pearson and Penguin to move in September
Pearson and Penguin will move to their new premises at 707 Collins Street, Melbourne in Melbourne's Docklands precinct on 17 September. Pearson Australia currently has offices in Port Melbourne, in...
Pearson UK to offer business degrees
In the UK, Pearson has announced plans to move into the higher education college market by offering a business and enterprise degree through a new company to be called Pearson...
Bookworld launches with new loyalty program
The Borders Australia online business has been rebranded and the new Bookworld website is now live. Among the features of the new site is a new ‘citizenship’ membership program, which...
Webber appointed CEO of Bookworld
James Webber, former ecommerce and digital manager at REDgroup Retail, has been appointed CEO of Bookworld, the division of Pearson Australia which operates the Angus & Robertson (A&R) and the...
Pearson to rebrand Borders online as Bookworld
Pearson Australia Group will rebrand the former REDgroup Retail-owned Borders online business as Bookworld this month. In a statement on the Borders.com.au website, Pearson said that the current Borders.com.au website...
Penguin acquires self-publishing service Author Solutions
Pearson has acquired the self-publishing service Author Solutions ‘from Bertram Capital for US$116 million [approximately A$113 million] in cash’, the publisher announced in a statement. The company said that while Author...
Pearson to move to net pricing in NZ
Pearson has announced that it will move to a ‘net price model’ in New Zealand next month, following a similar move in Australia last year. The publisher said in a...
Field to retire from Penguin
Peter Field, global CEO of Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing and chairman of Penguin Australia and New Zealand, will retire from Penguin at the end of this year. Penguin Group said...
Pearson results: Ebooks represent 12% of Penguin revenues
Penguin's parent company Pearson expects revenues from its digital and services businesses 'to exceed revenues from traditional publishing businesses in 2012', according to the company's recent full-year financial report. The...
Supanews to open A&R bricks-and-mortar bookstores
Former REDgroup-owned newsagency chain Supanews has confirmed to the Weekly Book Newsletter that it will operate Angus & Robertson (A&R) bricks-and-mortar bookshops in Australia. Adrian Gaskin, managing director of Supanews,...
Rakuten to acquire Kobo
Ebook platform provider and online retailer Kobo is to be acquired by Japanese internet service company Rakuten. Rakuten confirmed in a statement its ‘definitive agreement' to ‘acquire 100% of total...
Final Borders store in Singapore closes; Pearson buys ANZ rights to use Borders name
The remaining Borders store at Parkway Parade in Singapore closed this week, reports AsiaOne. The store closed on 26 September, following a 70% closing down sale which began last week....