E-reading on the Arno in Florence. Image – Getty iStockphoto: Francesco Frilli
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘A Robust and Competitive Service’
As the Frankfurt-based Bookwire continues expanding its reach, there’s news today that it has entered the Italian market in an acquisition of Marco Ferrario’s Bookrepublic‘s distribution service. No terms of the acquisition have been disclosed.
As our readers know, Bookwire’s expansion since its establishment in 2010 has seen it move beyond Germany to Mexico, Brazil, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Originally a distributor of ebooks, Bookwire now distributes and produces audiobooks, as well, and has print-on-demand components of service available.
Bookrepublic was also founded in 2010 as a sales outlet for ebooks and for years produced the “If Book Then” publishing conference in Milan. It has also expanded to include ExLibris, a distribution platform for digital content and the Content Agency, a communications office.
Marco Ferrario
In a comment issued with the news today, Ferrario is quoted, saying, “This collaboration opens up new possibilities for our clients.
“With Bookwire’s global reach and added resources, we’re well-positioned to provide an even more robust and competitive service, ensuring the best outcomes for our publishing partners.”
Bookwire CEO Jens Klingelhöfer says, “Marco and his team have built a great market position, reputation, and customer relationships in the Italian market.
Jens Klingelhöfer
“By entering one of the largest and strongest book markets in Europe, Bookwire continues to solidify its position on the European continent and its global footprint.
“Bookrepublic’s diverse services and expertise perfectly complement our goals, bringing significant value to both our companies and the publishers we serve.”
In a joint statement, Ferarrio and Klingelhöfer stress a minimum of disruption in the newly announced deal, saying, “For publishers and clients of Bookrepublic, it’s business as usual. The entire Bookrepublic team remains on board, ensuring stability and uninterrupted service.
Mariana Feged
“The Italian market holds immense potential for growth, and we’re excited to further develop and strengthen our presence there.”
Mariana Feged, who is Bookwire’s general manager for the company’s non-German-language European markets, says, “I’m looking forward to working with the talented and experienced team at Bookrepublic, getting to know the needs and wishes of Italian publishers even better, and supporting the Italian book market as a whole in bringing its stories, knowledge, and valuable content to more people.’
More on Bookwire is here, more on its base market in Germany is here, more on the Italian market is here, more on digital publishing is here, and more on distribution is here, more on industry notes is here, and more on mergers and acquisitions is here.
Publishing Perspectives is a media partner with Bookwire’s ‘All About Audio’ conferences.
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