U.K.-based Osprey Group has acquired the assets and publishing business of Duncan Baird Publishers which includes Watkins Publishing. Duncan Baird Publishers, founded in 1992 by Duncan Baird, specializes in the publication of illustrated books in the fields of food, health and well-being, mind, body and spirit, culture, religion and faith. It acquired the Watkins imprint, which focuses on books in the spiritual traditions of the world, ancient wisdom, divination and philosophy, in 2004.The acquisition will add £5.5 million in revenue to Osprey which had sales of £7 million in 2011.
According to Osprey, DBP will continue to be run from its London office, with Opsrey chief executive Rebecca Smart and CFO John Bowman, working alongside Duncan Baird. "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Duncan Baird and Watkins into the group," said Smart. "Duncan has created a really strong business in the growing lifestyle and transformation publishing areas and has also worked on strengthening the Watkins name. We plan to continue this work energetically to make the company a vital destination for the important spiritual, self-help and wellbeing communities, and everyone seeking to transform their lives.’
The deal is Osprey’s first since it received new financing last year to help expand its reach into enthusiast markets.
