News
Sutton out, as NPI Media is sold
18.12.07 Tom Tivnan
Alan Sutton has left NPI Media Group, the group he set up in order to buy back the publishing house that bears his name, Sutton Publishing, as well as a number of other companies. The group's business has also been acquired by new company The History Press, as it seeks to put a number of disputes about author payments behind it.
The History Press, backed by NPI's private equity partner Octopus Investments, has acquired all NPI's existing imprints--Pathfinder, Phillimore, Pitkin, Spellmount, Stadia, Sutton, Tempus and Nonsuch--together with all the existing titles, plus all the future contracts and the publishing rights contained in them.
Tony Morris c.e.o. of NPI Media becomes c.e.o. of The History Press. Last week, The Society of Authors urged NPI to pay outstanding royalties and advances. Morris said that he "guaranteed" that all outstanding royalties and authors would now be paid. He said: "We are sending letters to all our authors and agents this week that all outstanding royalties and advances will be paid. That is absolutely our commitment."
Sutton took up the position of chairman of the group in October, when Morris took the top job. Morris said that Sutton was no longer involved with the operation.
Morris said: "This is a very energising time for all publishers as we adapt to the digital age. Understanding our personal, local, regional and national history becomes ever more important in today’s global economy, so the kind of publishing we do has never been more relevant. The History Press brings a refreshed commitment to traditional book publishing whilst at the same time exploring new media, new audiences and new ways of presenting information."
The History Press has not retained its in-house print manufacturing facility. Morris said that it was the subject of buy-out offers.
Two weeks ago NPI sold its Jarrold contract publishing arm, part of the portfolio of five companies it acquired in February.
Comments on this article
By Nicholas Murphy
Well done Tony Morris and Octopus Investments. Good luck with The History Press ! Onwards and upwards !19 Dec 07 06:18
By Clive Keeble
Since the US based History Press was one of the numerous publishers allegedly purchased in the past 12 months by Alan Sutton-Nonsuch, I can only assume that there was a hidden form of reverse takeover. It would be terribly nice if the new board would make a plain and open statement to the booktrade ; will the new management be dumping "overstocks" within months (in the manner of Alan Sutton) or will they be prepared to make some effort to protect the value of their titles ? It has also been a disgrace to see some titles, from the likes of Phillimore, mugged away as though they were total dreck.19 Dec 07 07:06
By Never Again
"Morris said that he "guaranteed" that all outstanding royalties and authors would now be paid." What about all the others who are owed £10,000s. Any supplier with any sense will not continue to work with this so-called new company.19 Dec 07 10:09
By History Repeating Itself....
Back in March this is what the Bookseller and Mr Sutton had to say. Sutton says that his acquisitions carried a certain amount of risk, but are already bearing fruit. "What has been particularly pleasing is that all the assumptions we had made in our business model were true: there are savings to be made here." There's the saving on his salary for a start! As for everyone else who's owed money, how long will t be?19 Dec 07 12:35
By A Concerned Supplier.
Is this what is ment by "Hard Nosed" Buisness Tactics? I suppose it is lawful but for how much longer must British Industry allow this practice to continue?20 Dec 07 07:05
By RAVE FROM THE GRAVE
The new management has a very difficult job to pull things together and at this stage I believe we should give them the benefit of the doubt. If they do eventually default on their promises and obligations I trust that no one in the booktrade will deal with them ever again. As indeed everyone, suppliers, investors and the trade, should leave Sutton well alone.Comment edited, 25th February 2008
21 Dec 07 06:03
By Tempus Fugit
Having worked for Alan Sutton, I have great admiration for him. Without him, the current company would never be in existence. He did a bold thing in January and it didn't work out for him. It seems grossly unfair that his board have all got jobs still and one should ask what salaries the new owners are paying themselves. I doubt the staff will have had such pay rises! As far as I am aware, the main issue here has been a lack of sales, and the blame for that can be laid at the door of the NPI sales department, not at Alan's.21 Dec 07 07:35
By Happy Christmas
What ever you may feel about Alan Sutton or Tony Morris the fact of the matter is that there will lots of people owed large sums of money this Christmas. There were no cost saving attempts made at NPI instead they kept spending other people's money to prop up their business. The History Press is just the same people making the same mistakes. I can't afford to prop them up as well!21 Dec 07 10:01
By HAPPY NEW YEAR
The comment blaming sales sounds just like Sutton or one of his cronies; they are never at fault - it's always someone else. One man's "bold thing" is another man's folly - if sales didn't reflect the business plan I would say that is the fault of whoever drew up a flawed business plan. It's easy to add a nought and not so easy to achieve.21 Dec 07 11:03
By Query
Someone told me that Sutton's daughter is the c.e.o. of The History Press in the US. Does anyone know if this is true?22 Dec 07 22:50
By Martin Limon
Tried to contact the new company- the History Press- today, using the email address on their webpage. The email address doesnt work and the mail was returned. Any idea what is going on?23 Dec 07 08:18
By Martin Limon
I tried to contact the new company- The History Press- using the email address for authors shown on their webpage. The email address doesn't work and the email was rerturned. Any idea what is going on?23 Dec 07 08:21
By Daniel Standfast
No surprise they aren't available. I feel very sorry for the staff and authors.23 Dec 07 11:22
By L'INVESTISSEUR
Perhaps one should ask what salaries are Moris and Directors (investors) giving themselves? Who cares about authors and suppliers when 4 directors are believed to pocket at least 1/2 million ;-) among themselves in the next 12 months. What about the employees - well rumor has it staff will be slashed by 1/2 ;-) Bon merde l'investisseur!27 Dec 07 16:56
By L'INVESTISSEUR
Dear 'HAPPY NEW YEAR', I assume you are one of the 'GREAT' ex NPI Media sales team...maybe the director or one of his useless hands. Well done for posting supportive comments when us poor authors expect people like you to be selling our books... Bon merde l'investisseur!27 Dec 07 17:05
By L'INVESTISSEUR
Never Again, The only thing that is guaranteed is Morris and directors sharing 1/2 million...WOW WOW! Hold on...how is that possible? ;-) Bon merde l'investisseur!27 Dec 07 17:11
By HAPPY NEW YEAR
No I'm not "one of the great NPI sales team". I am one of many people who had my fingers burned many years ago.Comment edited, 25th February 2008
28 Dec 07 11:19
By George Standfast
So much spleen. Sutton has reinvented himself so many times over the last 15 or so years. He went broke at Alan Sutton Publishing and the company was taken over by the Guernsey Press. He was fired by the Guernsey Press for unauthorised activities and started The Chalford Publishing Company in 1993 with the financial assistance of worker directors, a large printing company and generous lines of credit from suppliers. The Chalford Publishing Company became Tempus Publishing (with the help of further investment) around 1996 after a number of Directors left the original company. Sutton regained control of Tempus - and lost the American company - in 2004 again with the help of further investment. The current mess started at the beginning of this year with the help of further investment - you'd think they had learned their lesson by now, wouldn't you ? All grandiose, unsustainable plans, as usual.28 Dec 07 14:09
By L'INVESTISSEUR
Perhaps the first book THPL should publish is 'Crooks and Cronies' - so apt! I would like to order a copy. Maybe one can request an autograph from the author himself? Fingers burnt or authors screwed - who cares at the end of the day. Any ideas who Octopus Investments are? Check it out. Another bunch of unscrupulous pigs?!Such "investors" should be hanged in public! Bon merde l'investisseur!29 Dec 07 17:55
By Anxious author
Any ideas what an author recently published by Tempus should do?30 Dec 07 11:05
By Worried
Ok. I've published two books since 2005 with one further to appear shortly. Although my first is 'still selling' and in its second print run I have made a massive £700. I have no indication whatsoever of my second books sales. I have other contracts with Tempus at the moment. Should I walk away before I get reemed any further! And should I be instructing my solicitor to be discussing the royalties situation with them? What ever happened to advances?31 Dec 07 11:21
By Anxious author
I'm not keen to start buying legal advice before I have to. Does anyone know anything about History Press apart from what their website tells us? Are they by any chance vanity publishers? Why does a South Carolina business think it can make money here? Is there really a link to Sutton’s daughter as ‘Query’ suggested?31 Dec 07 12:18
By Query
Happy New Year -- Thanks for clarifying that point. Do you know what her role in the company is? I know that other members of his family are still involved in NPI Media, so it would be interesting to know if Alan Sutton is truly renouncing his power. Anxious author -- It would be worth checking your house insurance policy. These days it will very often include free legal advice and legal aid up to several thousand pounds. If you are covered then you can at least find out what your situation is without incurring huge costs.31 Dec 07 17:31
By Info
You might be interested in this:- http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/ViewPDF.aspx?pdf=58548&geotype=London&gpn=18395&type=Issue&all=tempus publishing Looks like all the companies have gone.31 Dec 07 18:13
By Tempus Fugit
Kirsty Sutton was owner of the original History Press in the USA and is also owed money by the people who now own NPI. That's the same lot who have bumped their salaries up quite a lot and taken a percentage of the new company despite leaving a few million in creditors. Will the authors get paid - I guess they will but lots of suppliers won't. The restructuring was indeed a means to escape from paying lots of debts while still keeping the company afloat! When your pitiful royalty cheque does come in, remember to ask the directors what their salary is and what share they now own in the company and how they came upon that share. It certainly wasn't deserved or earned!01 Jan 08 00:32
By Tempus Fugit
Peter Teale, the current NPI and HP Ltd finance director, was fd of efdex - an internet company that burned $65Million in the late 1990s, leaving all of $39,200 in assets for the creditors to fight over! Crooks and Cronies is the book he published about his time at Efdex. It would be worth a read, if only it hadn't been pulped when he lost the libel claim.01 Jan 08 00:40
By Sceptical
Methinks 'Tempus Fugit' doth protest too much. Where were such scruples when the directors were appointed? Do these directors drive company-financed Aston Martins in the style of Alan Sutton? What financial incentive would be required to persuade anyone to take responsibility for, and attempt to sort out, this unholy mess? And it is the authors, the suppliers and the staff that pay the ultimate price - thus was it ever so.01 Jan 08 14:15
By Anxious author
Any booksellers following this? If so what do they think of NPI’s recent sales efforts, compared to other publishers? What about deliveries? And thanks to ‘Query’ for the legal fees insurance suggestion.01 Jan 08 18:07
By Tempus Fugit
Nicholas Murphy - Am I Alan or Kirsty Sutton? - No! Am I going to tell you who I am? Quite frankly, No! Anxious Author - I do believe your royalties will be paid. Worried - why not wait and see what happens by end of January and take it from there. If they pay the royalties then all is well and if not, sue them in the small claims court - it doesn't cost much. You should speak to your commissioning editor about the forthcoming book and find out if they intend to publish at the time previously discussed with you. If not, they may be in breach of contract.01 Jan 08 19:29
By To the author
Please ignore these blowhards. They are peddling huge quantities of the brown, smelly stuff.01 Jan 08 19:45
By Nicholas Murphy
Still not convinced... However I hope ALL the creditors get paid. Taking a company declared insolvent to court, small claims or otherwisse, would be a thankless task02 Jan 08 06:50
By Anxious Author 2
I don't see why we should "wait until the end of January" Tempus Fugit. Given the circumstances I think it encumbent on the company to contact us in the next few days.02 Jan 08 07:40
By L'INVESTISSEUR
OK the saga continues...what we write here makes little difference. I do suggest authors ask for full disclosure of what the current directors are getting in terms of salaries and perks. My advice would be for all authors to lodge a collective claim against the History Press Limited - or its current directors. If they have money to pay themselves such salaries, they obviously have money to pay their creditors and authors. Surely they must have a warehouse full of books - (i.e. realizable assets) which if sold at 10 pence a copy could have brought enough to cover us poor authors. The company went into administration just before Christmas - still nobody knows WHY? But clearly they are selling books from their old stock and taking money in - this time to their own benefit and profit (creditors are gone!) My suspicion is that things were planned well ahead. NPI stopped answering calls as early as mid October. Just an interesting thought - if they say they will be payng authors (which I do not honestly believe) isn't that putting authors ahead of other creditors? Bon merde l'investisseur!COMMENT EDITED AFTER UNSUITABLE NOTIFICATION: 3RD JANUARY
02 Jan 08 19:13
By L'INVESTISSEUR
AN IDEA Perhaps we can all ask the Bookseller to set up something like a "are you a srewed ex-NPI Media author - click here!" so we can put down the amounts we are due. I do believe that going for a collective claim all authors big and small will win, probably what is due to them in full and not some pathetic handouts from Mr Morris. If somebody knows how to set up websites and it is not a great hassle - let's do that. How many authors did NPI have - 100, 500, 1000? More? Do you REALLY believe you will get paid - I don't. If they wanted to pay us - they could have done it by now. I have lost my patience with this company. A total boycott on their books and services. Bon merde l'investisseur.COMMENT EDITED AFTER UNSUITABLE NOTIFICATION: 3RD JANUARY
02 Jan 08 19:26
By philip.jones@bookseller.co.uk
This thread is now closed. Discussion can continue alongside our updated news story here: Morris asks: 'judge us by results'.03 Jan 08 13:48
See Also
Related
- Morris asks: 'judge us by results'
- 'Absolute chaos' at Sutton's empire
- Morris steps into Sutton's shoes
- Authors demand NPI payment
- Blackwell's Olivieri resigns: update
Book news from the BBC
- Ugly tale of triumph over trials
- Businesses suffer as Thais protest
- Britons still stuck in Thai chaos
- Bath return for Chris Patten
- Girl writes new Famous Five book
Latest Comments
- Bet the 30,000 employees are equally bored Ray: we can't all be erotic poets.
- Bored shitless with this.
- The Folio Society version is rather exquisite....
- Bertrams have been good to me as a debut author and new publisher, giving...
- Any well run independent bookshop will already have many channels of supply...
RSS
Subscriber Content