Independent Publishers Group

Merger with Chicago Review Press

In 1987, IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press (CRP) an independent publisher founded at about the same time as IPG.

Acquisition of other book distributors

IPG acquired Paul & Company, an 11-year-old distributor of university presses, in 2001. IPG now sells directly to universities.

In 2006, IPG acquired Trafalgar Square Publishing, founded in 1973, which is the distributor of more than 100 publishers from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Germany, representing more than 20,000 titles. Its roster includes HarperCollins, Pan Macmillan, and Penguin Random House from the UK and Allen and Unwin and Penguin Random House from Australia; these publishers’ titles are not always issued in US editions.

In 2018, IPG acquired International Specialized Book Services (ISBS), an academic book distributor.

In August 2018, IPG acquired the book distributor, Midpoint Trade Books. Speaking to Publishers Weekly, IPG's CEO, Joe Matthews said that the publishing industry "is consolidating because distribution rewards scale, requires expensive technology, and demands high-level access to customers."{{cite web|work=Publishers Weekly |title=IPG Acquires Midpoint Trade Books|first=Claire |last=Kirch |date=2018-09-04|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/77902-ipg-acquires-midpoint-trade-books.html |access-date=2018-11-15}}{{cite web|work=Shelf Awareness |title=IPG Buys Midpoint Trade Books|date=2018-09-04|url=https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3326 |access-date=2018-11-15}}

Bankruptcy in the UK

In October 2021 IPG acquired United Independent Distributors (UID), the UK's second largest book distributor which was facing financial and operational challenges. IPG invested millions in UID and its subsidiary companies Marston Book Services, Orca Book Services and Eurospan, but without Joe Matthews providing convincing targets for the acquisition and investment or guaranteeing a reliable service. On July 25, 2024, IPG announced that UID and its subsidiaries Marston, Orca and Eurospan had gone into administration, leaving publisher clients unpaid, struggling to access all their stock and with no communication from IPG.

Represented publishers

• John Blake Publishing Ltd, founded in 1991

• hidden europe publications, founded in 2004.

• Verso, founded as New Left Books in 1970.

References

References

1. "Publishers | Independent Publishers Group".
2. "IPG Acquires ISBS". PublishersWeekly.com.
3. "Publishers despair at late payments from Marston Book Services amid IPG systems changes". www.thebookseller.com.
4. "UID, Marston, Orca, and Eurospan File for Bankruptcy". PublishersWeekly.com.
5. "About Blake Publishing".
6. "John Blake".