Seasonal decor on Montreal’s Crescent Street. Image – Getty: CIIO
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘Shared Values’
At mid-month, the publishing-software company Klopotek in Berlin is expressing its support for its owner, Montreal-based Valsoft, in its acquisition of the Edelwiess platform.
Québec’s Valsoft announced at the time that Klopotek was the first publishing-vertical company to become part of Valsoft’s Aspire software.
The Edelweiss move came in November, and at that time, the founding CEO of the company, John Rubin, was quoted, saying, “Since we started the business in 2002, we’ve been driven by an unwavering commitment to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the book industry.
“We’re … confident that our shared values” with Valsoft “and vision will enable us to maintain our unique culture, drive growth, and secure a strong, enduring future for Edelweiss.”
Anthony Caruso, investment partner at Valsoft at the time said the agreement would help “drive forward the modernization of the book industry.
Anthony Caruso
“Edelweiss has built an unparalleled reputation over the years,” Caruso said, “and its vibrant ecosystem—connecting industry professionals to discover both new and classic titles—is truly impressive.
“We’re excited to support Edelweiss’ continued growth and to bring new features and products that will better serve the industry.”
Mitch Bourassa
And Mitch Bourassa, executive vice-president of operations with Valsoft, is quoted, saying, “The recent acquisition of Edelweiss following that of Klopotek in 2023 perfectly aligns with their missions to remain leaders in publishing technology and services. These companies empower publishers with advanced tools and deliver exceptional services, ultimately serving the needs of everyone in the publishing ecosystem—including
readers.
“In an industry in which the value-creation chain is under constant pressure, optimizing resources and controlling costs is critical. With these acquisitions, customers of Edelweiss and Klopotek will benefit from more tailored, comprehensive products and services designed to meet their evolving needs and preferences.”
On its site, Valsoft’s self-descriptive promotional copy includes a statement that, “Unlike private equity and venture capital firms, Valsoft does not have a predefined investment horizon and looks to buy, hold, and create value through long-term partnerships with existing management and customers.”
Additional acquisitions relative to publishing by Valsoft are, according to media messaging from Klopotek:
- Aysling, which enables media publishers to manage advertising through its own software, AdOrbit
- Protecmedia, which technology related to advertising, editorial processes and audience management
- MWM Group, a software company in newspaper printing factories and media companies
Klopotek’s messaging relative to the Edelwiess acquisition says that synergies between the two companies under Valsoft’s umbrella will lead to improved services in the publishing technology area and “access to new functionalities.”
Klopotek says that its publishing software is used by more than 400 publishers with at least 3,000 imprints and more than 24,800 users.
More from Publishing Perspectives on mergers and acquisitions is here, more on digital publishing is here, and more on stories near the year’s end is here.
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