Storytel Group has acquired a 70% stake in Bokfabriken, one of Sweden's largest general publishing houses. The remaining 30% will be retained by current owners, with Lasse Brahme continuing as CEO.
Bokfabriken, which reported sales of SEK 65.7 million ($6 million) and an operating profit of SEK 15.9 million ($1.7 million) in 2023, has demonstrated strong digital performance with approximately 500 audiobook titles accounting for more than 70% of its revenue.
"Storytel has revolutionized the entire book industry," Brahme said. "As a content provider, Bokfabriken has been part of that journey from the start, and it therefore feels natural to continue together on this path."
Founded in 2012 by Brahme, Erik Johansson, and Mattias Lundgren, Bokfabriken operates from offices in Malmö and Stockholm. The publisher's roster includes authors David Baldacci, Leffe Grimwalker, Anna Karolina, Anders Nilsson, and crime fiction duo Christina Olséni and Micke Hansen.
"We are happy to welcome Bokfabriken to Storytel Group," said Bodil Eriksson Torp, CEO of Storytel Group, in a statement. "They have established themselves as one of the leading publishers in the audio segment in Sweden and have a proven track record of publishing commercially successful content across various genres that resonates well with the Storytel audience."
The acquisition will be paid in cash from Storytel Group's existing balance sheet. Bokfabriken will maintain its independent operations within Storytel Group, which currently operates in more than 25 markets globally.
The deal adds to Storytel's extensive Nordic publishing portfolio, which includes Sweden's Norstedts Förlagsgrupp (with imprints Rabén & Sjögren, Brombergs, B Wahlströms, and Printz Publishing), Lind & Co, and the digital-first imprint Tiden. The company's regional holdings also include Finland's Gummerus Oy and Aula & Co, Denmark's People's (formerly People's Press), and a 70% stake in Iceland's Forlagið.
