Midpoint Trade Books Joins Independent Publishers Group

September 4, 2018

CHICAGO, IL – Independent Publishers Group (IPG, www.ipgbook.com), the original independent book distributor in the United States, is pleased to announce that it closed on the purchase of fellow distributor Midpoint Trade Books (Midpoint, www.midpointtrade.com) on August 17, 2018, for an undisclosed amount.

The transaction was completed by IPG CEO Joe Matthews and Midpoint founder Eric Kampmann. Kampmann has stepped into a consulting and advising role and will assist in the transition, while Alex Kampmann takes over daily management. Alex has been promoted to Vice President, General Manager, Midpoint Trade Books. Eric Kampmann will continue to own and operate his publishing companies Beaufort Books and Spencer Hill Press, which will be distributed through the Midpoint program at IPG.

Joe Matthews said, “Our industry is consolidating because distribution rewards scale, requires expensive technology and demands high-level access to customers. By bringing together these two established distributors, publishers will benefit greatly as IPG accelerates its investments in service and innovation.”

Eric Kampmann is very optimistic about the future of this exciting new alliance. “For quite some time, I have believed that the moment was approaching when a younger generation of motivated, energetic publishing talent could take Midpoint to a new level of performance and service. But I also recognized that we could not do this on our own. This merger of talent and experience from both IPG and Midpoint will place the combined companies on a whole new level of excellence in service for a very strong group of book publishers. As an active consultant to these companies, I look forward to the challenges and successes to come.”

Inventory will transition to IPG’s Chicago warehouse in the first quarter of 2019.

About Independent Publishers Group
Established in 1971, IPG was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. With consistent growth year over year, IPG’s success has come from supporting and encouraging the growth of its client publishers in the United States and worldwide. IPG has a wide reach in the market through its distribution of publishers with academic and professional, Spanish-language, computer and general trade nonfiction and fiction titles. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987, and Chicago Review Press, Inc., the parent company of both IPG and Chicago Review Press, was born. In the fall of 2006, Chicago Review Press, Inc. bought Trafalgar Square Publishing, Inc., the leading US distributor of UK and Australian publishers. Trafalgar Square Publishing distributes for clients such as Penguin Random House UK, Penguin Random House Australia, Pan Macmillan UK, Collins UK, and Head of Zeus. IPG acquired INscribe Digital in July 2016. INscribe Digital offers flexible and scalable solutions for e-book production, conversion, marketing and distribution. IPG acquired Portland based International Specialized Book Services (ISBS) in July 2018. ISBS is an Academic distribution unit with particular strength in the law category and includes publishers Intersentia, Bloomsbury Professional, and Hart Publishing.

About Midpoint Trade Books
Midpoint is a full-service book distribution company that was founded in 1996 by a group of industry professionals, including Eric Kampmann and former Executive Vice President Chris Bell. Located in the Flatiron District of New York City, Midpoint’s distribution clients are made up of independent book publishers from across the US, the UK, Australia and Canada.

Additional Coverage:

IPG Acquires MidPoint Trade Books - Publishers Weekly 
IPG Acquired Midpoint; Bonnier to Make Units Independent Companies - Publishers Lunch
IPG Buys Midpoint Trade Books - Shelf Awareness

Download the press release here.