Mairdumont's gestalten acquires storied publishing house teNeues from Weltbild
Fraser has acted as financial advisor to Die Gestalten Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, a leading global publisher known for creating visually striking and thoughtfully curated books, on its acquisition of the assets of teNeues from Weltbild Group. Gestalten will continue the entire national and international business with a German and English-language illustrated book program of around 500 active titles.
Ulm & Augsburg – October 21, 2024. MAIRDUMONT subsidiary Die Gestalten Verlag GmbH & Co. KG has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the assets of teNeues. Gestalten will take on all 20 employees of teNeues and continue the entire national and international business with a German and English-language illustrated book program of around 500 active titles. The agreement is still subject to approval by creditors.
teNeues generated sales of around €10 million last year and ran into financial difficulties following the insolvency of the Weltbild Group in the summer of this year.
Christian Plail, insolvency administrator for the Weltbild Group and partner at the law firm SGP Schneider Geiwitz, commented on the signing of the agreement: “We have found a very good solution here for the attractive business of teNeues as well as for its employees.”
MAIRDUMONT sees great potential in the interaction between the two publishing houses and programs of teNeues and Gestalten to further expand its market position nationally and internationally as one of the leading global players in the field of high-quality illustrated books. Both brands and programs complement each other perfectly: Gestalten inspires a trend-conscious younger target group with its media on the topics of architecture, visual culture, design & fashion, food & beverage, and travel, including a fine children's book program.
teNeues excellently covers the topic of luxury brands and luxury themes such as automobiles, watches, and fashion. Long-standing bestsellers include The Watch Book Rolex, The Porsche 911 Book, and the “The Ultimate...” and “Stylish...” series on golf, skiing, tennis, etc. Both publishers are active in corporate publishing worldwide.
The managing director and founder of Gestalten, Robert Klanten, and his 35 employees are looking forward to the collaboration and integration of teNeues: “teNeues enjoys an excellent reputation both nationally and internationally, and I have great respect for what Ms. Penck and her team have built up. The acquisition of teNeues will allow us to streamline our program, marketing, and sales and to consistently pursue the strategic opportunities offered by the market. We are very much looking forward to working together.”
Stefanie Penck, Managing Director of teNeues, says: “With Gestalten and MAIRDUMONT, teNeues is gaining two strategic and competent partners from the industry with a high level of target group and brand understanding. I look forward to an active and successful future together.”
MAIRDUMONT is the market leader in the travel sector with its brands and product ranges Marco Polo, DUMONT, Baedeker, Lonely Planet, Kompass, Falk, ADAC Kartografie, and Hallwag Kümmerly & Frey, offering travel guides, illustrated books, cartography, publications on sports and activities, and digital media. Dr. Stephanie Mair-Huydts, managing partner of MAIRDUMONT: “For MAIRDUMONT, the acquisition of teNeues offers a great strategic opportunity to work with Gestalten to establish ourselves even more broadly in the field of high-quality illustrated books, far beyond the topic of travel and in international business. As a brand specialist and family-owned company with a long-term perspective, we greatly value the teNeues brand.”
About gestalten
Founded in Berlin in 1995, gestalten is a leading global publisher known for creating visually striking and thoughtfully curated books that inspire curious, cultured, and creative minds worldwide. Together with our imprints gestalten, teNeues and Little Gestalten, we publish over 100 new titles each year across a wide range of lifestyle and culture categories — from architecture and design, travel and nature, to fashion, photography, luxury, children’s books, and more. Our books are globally distributed and celebrated for their aesthetic excellence and storytelling depth. We collaborate with visionary brands, creatives, and institutions to craft iconic books that inspire, engage, and endure. From luxury labels to bold innovators, we bring editorial expertise, world-class design, and global reach to every collaboration. As part of the MairDumont Group - Europe’s leading publisher of travel and destination content - we draw from a rich heritage of exploration and storytelling to deliver content that connects deeply and sells widely. For more information, visit https://uk.gestalten.com
About Fraser
We are a dedicated M&A advisory and investment firm, partnering with leaders in Europe’s B2B technology sectors for achieving exceptional growth and success. Based in Berlin, London, and Chicago, we are advising entrepreneurs, senior management, and boards on their most important strategic decisions and transactions. Alongside our clients, partners, and affiliates, we also invest in selected opportunities. For further information, please visit www.fraserfinance.com.