Lagardère Publishing strengthens its presence in the United States with the acquisition of Sterling Publishing

Hachette Book Group, the U.S. division of Lagardère Publishing, finalized the acquisition of Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. from Barnes & Noble on November 20.

Sterling Publishing Co. comprises several well-known imprints recognized for their high-quality publications across various editorial segments: adult fiction and non-fiction imprints Union Square & Co., Puzzlewright Press, Sterling Ethos, and Spark Notes, children’s imprints Union Square Kids and Boxer Books and the gift and stationery publishers Knock Knock and Em & Friends. Sterling Publishing has a catalog of 13,000 titles and publishes around 350 new titles each year.

Sterling is the publisher of celebrated children’s author and illustrator Mo Willems, whose works frequently top the New York Times bestseller lists, along with recent New York Times bestselling authors Caroline Chambers and Dan Pelosi, as well as acclaimed authors Melissa Blair, L.S. Stratton, and Dusti Bowling, among others, as well as a dynamic program of literary classics.

Lagardère Publishing is the world’s third-largest publishing group and generates over two-thirds of its revenue internationally, with approximately 30% coming from the U.S. and Canada.

Hachette Book Group ranks as the fourth-largest trade publisher in the U.S. and it has recorded strong business momentum with growth of almost 8% in the first half of 2024.

This acquisition fits perfectly with the Group’s strategy of international expansion. It strengthens Hachette Book Group’s position in the U.S. by adding a dynamic and diversified portfolio of imprints while maintaining business ties with Barnes & Noble, the leading bookstore chain in the U.S. and a key partner for Lagardère Publishing.

Sterling, led by Emily Meehan since 2021, will join Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group. Emily Meehan will report into Ben Sevier, President and Publisher of the Grand Central Publishing Group. All Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.’s staff, publishing assets and trademarks will transfer to Hachette Book Group.

Lagardère Publishing, whose main brand is Hachette Livre, is the world’s third-largest mainstream publishing group (trade and educational). With revenue of €2,809 million in 2023, it is the market leader in France, second in the UK, third in Spain and fourth in the US (in trade publishing). The Group comprises over 200 imprints which together publish around 15,000 new titles each year in a dozen languages (mainly French, English and Spanish). It covers all segments of the mainstream publishing market: general fiction, nonfiction, paperbacks, children’s and YA books, illustrated books, travel guides, textbooks, study guides and partworks.
https://www.hachette.com/