OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Feb 23, 2015) - Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC ("RDS") and Baker & Taylor, Inc. ("Baker & Taylor") have entered into an agreement whereby RDS acquired the Baker & Taylor Marketing Services U.S. ("BTMS") and Baker & Taylor Publishing Group ("BTPG") businesses. The transaction closed on February 20, 2015 at 11:59 pm ET.
BTMS UK and BTMS Mexico are not included in the transaction and will remain subsidiaries of Baker & Taylor, Inc.
Readerlink is the largest full-service book distribution company to non-trade booksellers in the USA, selling approximately one out of every three trade books sold nationwide. The transaction is expected to bring additional resources to BTMS customers, including an expanded portfolio of tailored products and services and broader category management capabilities.
All of the current management and employees of the acquired businesses are joining the Readerlink team, including Sydney Stanley, Executive Vice President and General Manager, who will continue to lead the acquired businesses under RDS' ownership. Sydney will report to Michael Hesselbach, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of RDS.
By way of the acquisition, Readerlink will be acquiring BTMS' 504,000 square-foot Indianapolis, Indiana distribution center, as well as its general offices in San Diego, California, and its editorial offices in Ashland, Oregon.
No office, distribution center, or operational changes are planned to occur as a result of the transaction. Tyler Meinerding, Director of Operations, will continue to oversee the Indianapolis DC and will report to James Shriver, RDS' Vice President of Operations.
In the near future, BTMS will re-brand to Readerlink Marketing Services, and BTPG will re-brand to Printers Row Publishing Group. The individual publishing imprints, Silver Dolphin, Thunder Bay, Canterbury Classics and Portable Press will not be re-branded.
"We believe that the businesses' talented management team, dedicated employees and world-class wholesale club partners distinguish them as leaders in their respective verticals," said Dennis E. Abboud, President and C.E.O. of RDS. "This transaction provides us with additional assets and expertise to continue our long-standing, proven commitment to customer service and to help us and our new retail partners succeed in a dynamic and evolving book market."
Baker & Taylor President and C.E.O. George Coe said, "This transaction will allow Baker & Taylor to focus on continued growth and investment in its core competencies. We are pleased to have identified the right buyer for these businesses and are confident the businesses, their customers and their publisher partners are in good hands."
About Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC
Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC is the largest full-service book distributor to non-trade booksellers in North America, selling approximately one out of every three trade books, and is a recognized leader in distribution logistics, value-added category management services, field services and business analytics. Readerlink's solutions include full-service print book distribution, online print book distribution, print on demand and e-book fulfillment. Readerlink is located in Oak Brook, IL. For more information, go to www.Readerlink.net.
About Baker & Taylor, Inc.
Baker & Taylor, Inc. is a premier worldwide distributor of books, digital content and entertainment products. The company offers cutting-edge digital media services and innovative technology platforms to thousands of publishers, libraries, schools and retailers worldwide. Baker & Taylor also offers industry-leading customized library services and retail merchandising solutions. Charlotte, N.C.-based Baker & Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., an institutional private equity fund managed by Castle Harlan, Inc., a leading private equity investment firm. For more information, go to www.baker-taylor.com.