HarperCollins completes Egmont acquisition

HarperCollins has completed its acquisition of children's publisher Egmont Books UK for an undisclosed sum, the firm confirmed on Friday (1st May).

It was first announced on 1st April that HarperCollins intended to buy Egmont's UK arm alongside its books business in Poland and Schneiderbuch Germany.

Egmont Books UK will now be run as a distinct children’s division led by its m.d. Cally Poplak. Poplak is also joining the HarperCollins UK Executive Committee, reporting to c.e.o. Charlie Redmayne.

In a statement, HarperCollins said: “Following HarperCollins Publishers’ announcement of its intention to acquire Egmont Books UK Ltd., Egmont’s book business in Poland and Schneiderbuch in Germany on 1st April 2020, it can today confirm that the acquisition is now complete. Egmont’s magazine publishing is not part of the transaction and is retained by Egmont Publishing.”

The deal is expected to create the UK's largest children's publisher in terms of TCM market share.