We were pleased to represent Peterson’s and its parent company, Triangle Digital Ventures, in the sale of B.E.S. Publishing (formerly owned by Barron’s Educational Series) to Sourcebooks.
Sourcebooks Acquires B.E.S. Publishing from Peterson’s Publishing
Leading Entrepreneurial Publisher Gains 800+ Children’s and Adult Titles in Company’s Largest Acquisition
(CHICAGO – November 4, 2021) – Sourcebooks, a leading entrepreneurial publisher and the largest woman-owned publisher in North America, has acquired B.E.S. Publishing from Peterson’s Publishing in its largest acquisition to date.
The deal, which closed November 1, encompasses 800-plus B.E.S. titles, including children’s fiction and nonfiction and adult nonfiction. Accounts should continue to order B.E.S. titles through Ingram Content Group through the end of 2021.
“The addition of B.E.S. adds breadth, variety, and depth to our rapidly expanding children’s and adult nonfiction catalog,” said Dominique Raccah, Sourcebooks CEO and publisher. “We are excited to give these titles a new home. Our retail distribution is extensive, and we support our authors with best-in-class marketing and digital marketing, keeping our books top of mind for consumers. So excited by the opportunity to grow the audience for these great books!”
“We can’t think of a better home than Sourcebooks for this extraordinary collection,” said Mo Lam, CEO of Peterson’s Publishing.
The children’s titles that Sourcebooks is acquiring from Peterson’s Publishing includes novelty fiction and nonfiction picture books, holiday books, and middle-grade graphic novels, including the popular Goodnight series.
“Our children’s book business now accounts for more than half of our annual sales and has put up numerous bestsellers in the last 10 years,” said Kay Birkner, assistant publisher and associate director of publishing strategy for Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Young Readers. “We have largely done so without many partnerships in the co-edition universe, so we’re eager to open our publishing and acquisition pipeline to that opportunity.”
The adult nonfiction titles that will be part of the acquisition include pet and dog care titles, crafting books, and adult activity books.
“This acquisition adds new and in-demand categories to our adult nonfiction list,” said Anna Michels, editorial director for Sourcebooks trade and Poisoned Pen Press. “From researching dog breeds to crafting to coloring, readers will find the books they need to inform and entertain.”
Susan Reich and David Lamb of Book Advisors LLC represented Peterson’s in this transaction.
Sourcebooks is a thriving entrepreneurial company that brings extraordinary authors to readers in the most dynamic, data-driven ways. We create books that transcend categories and defy odds, and we have been honored with hundreds of national bestsellers and awards. We are a company of enthusiastic book lovers passionate about connecting books to readers in new and innovative ways. Story by story, book by book, we have touched over 100 million lives. Join us as we change 100 million more. Visit sourcebooks.com for more information.
MEDIA CONTACT | Liz Kelsch | Director of Marketing – Sourcebooks | liz.kelsch@sourcebooks.com