HarperCollins to Acquire Egmont Books UK Ltd.
News Release
HarperCollins Publishers today announced its intent to acquire Egmont Books UK Ltd., as well as Egmont’s book business in Poland and Schneiderbuch Germany. The transaction is set to complete on 30th April 2020. Egmont’s magazine publishing is not part of the transaction and is retained by Egmont Publishing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Egmont Publishing is owned by Egmont, a leading Nordic media group focused on award-winning content and platforms within film, television, streaming and cinema over gaming, e-commerce and marketing services to educational platforms, magazines and books. Egmont Publishing is behind a wide range of popular magazine titles and books in more than 20 countries, and global licensing partnerships with a range of brand owners including Disney, Mattel, Hasbro, Mojang and Roblox.
On completion Egmont Books UK will be run as a distinct children’s division led by MD Egmont UK, Cally Poplak. Poplak will join HarperCollins UK Executive Committee, and will report to Charlie Redmayne, CEO, HarperCollins UK. The division will maintain its publishing autonomy and will remain in its offices for the immediate future. In Germany, Schneiderbuch will integrate into the children’s books group reporting to Carina Mathern, Editorial Director of HarperCollins Germany Children’s books who reports to Juergen Welte, MD HarperCollins Germany, and Egmont
Books Poland will report through Agnieszka Baranska, MD, HarperCollins Poland.
Chantal Restivo-Alessi, CEO International Foreign Language and CDO, HarperCollins Publishers said: ‘We are looking forward to welcoming Egmont UK, Schneiderbuch in Germany and Egmont Books Poland to the HarperCollins family. Egmont’s expertise in the children’s book market and position as a global player in licensed publishing, combined with HarperCollins global footprint will be the cornerstone for building and growing our worldwide strength in children’s publishing.’
Charlie Redmayne, CEO HarperCollins UK said: ‘The acquisition of Egmont will give us a huge opportunity to combine their existing profile and expertise in the UK and in Europe with
the licensing experience and capability we already have in Suzanne Murphy’s HarperCollins US children’s business. This will enable us to unlock the potential of licensed publishing across the broadest international reach. We look forward to welcoming Cally and her team, and of course
Egmont UK’s exceptional list, which includes iconic names such as Winnie-the-Pooh, Thomas the Tank Engine, Tintin and Mr Men, to HarperCollins UK where alongside Ann-Janine Murtagh’s record- breaking Children’s division we will continue to build an unbeatable children’s publishing
proposition.’
Torsten Bjerre Rasmussen, CEO Egmont Publishing: ‘We have taken a strategic decision to exit the children’s book business in UK, Poland and Schneiderbuch in Germany, and we are pleased to announce that HarperCollins will be the future owner of the business in these countries. I want to thank employees in all three countries that have done a fantastic work over the years developing books and content at an international standard.’
Issued by: Fiona Allen Corporate Communications Tel: 0208 307 4133
Email: Fiona.Allen@harpercollins.co.uk
ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS
HarperCollins Children’s Books, unprecedented three times winner of Children’s Publisher of the Year (2014, 2015, 2016) is one of the leading publishers of children’s books, recognised for nurturing new talent as well as boasting a reputable list of established best-selling authors. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers,
HarperCollins is home to many children’s classics, including The Chronicles of Narnia, the Paddington
stories, The Cat in the Hat and The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and to some of the biggest names in
children’s literature past and present, including David Walliams, Judith Kerr, David Baddiel, Lauren Child, Oliver Jeffers and Michael Morpurgo.
HarperCollins UK is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 17 countries, and was named Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards 2018. With over two hundred years of history and more than 120 unique imprints around the world, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year, in 16 languages, and has a print and digital catalogue of more than 200,000 titles. Writing across dozens of genres, HarperCollins authors include winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals and the Man Booker Prize. HarperCollins UK has offices in London, Glasgow and Honley, and can be found online at www.harpercollins.co.uk.
HarperCollins Publishers is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 17 countries. With over 200 years of history and more than 120 branded imprints around the world, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year in 16 languages, and has a print and digital catalog of more than 200,000 titles. Writing across dozens of genres, HarperCollins authors include winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals and the Man Booker Prize. HarperCollins, headquartered in New York, is a subsidiary of News Corp (Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) and can be visited online at corporate.HC.com.
Egmont is a leading Nordic media group focused on award-winning content and platforms within film, television, streaming and cinema over gaming, e-commerce and marketing services to educational platforms, magazines and books. Egmont Publishing is behind a wide range of popular magazine titles and books in more than 20 countries. Proud owner of strong companies like Nordisk Film, TV 2 Norway, Lindhardt og Ringhof and Egmont Publishing. Being a foundation, all profit is reinvested in our media companies and donated to help improve the lives of children and young people and support film talents.
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