Book distributor Baker & Taylor is on its own again after a private investor group, led by Baker & Taylor CEO Aman Kochar, bought the company from the academic content distributor Follett. Baker & Taylor’s operations and leadership will remain unchanged for the immediate future, at least, and Kochar pledged to ensure a “seamless” transition for customers, according to a joint announcement made by both companies on November 4.
The sale includes Baker & Taylor Publisher Services, collectionHQ, Baker & Taylor UK and James Bennett.
Baker & Taylor has long been a distributor of books and other media to libraries, institutions, and stores. It was acquired by Follett in 2016 and shut down retail distribution to individual stores in 2019 (see “Baker & Taylor Ending Book Sales to Individual Stores”).
Follett, which focuses on the educational market and runs retail bookstores on college campuses, has been narrowing its scope in recent months. It sold its K-12 software and content division, Follett School Solutions, to the global investment firm Francisco Partners in September, and it is shutting down its school book fair division effective November 15, 2021.
Source: ICV2
