Egmont Publishing, which announced last October that it wanted to sell its U.S. publishing operations, has decided to close its U.S. office, effective January 31. Egmont, which opened its U.S. operations in 2008, said that attempts to sell the business "have not resulted in any final agreements."
Egmont Publishing International CEO Rob McMenemy commented: "The reason for closing the U.S. business is that it does not fit with the strategic position of Egmont Publishing only to invest in countries where we can have a market leading position. Managing director and publisher Andrea Cascardi and her team in Egmont USA have done a great job and we were hoping to succeed with selling the business, unfortunately this has turned out not to be possible."
Egmont USA has published books by former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Walter Dean Myers, including his novels Riot and Carmen, and the picture book Lookin' Like Me, illustrated by his son, Christopher Myers; and H.O.R.S.E., written and illustrated by Christopher Myers. Among the publisher's other successes are Every Other Day and Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes; The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos; the Jaguar Stones series by J&P Voelkel; and Ilse J. Bick's Ashes Trilogy.
Egmont USA's spring 2015 list will be published and books will continue to be available via Random House.