Nonfiction publisher MacFarlane Walter & Ross has ended its distribution agreement with Stoddart Publishing and has been acquired by McClelland & Stewart. As of January 13, MacFarlane Walter & Ross teamed up with McClelland & Stewart, with MW&R maintaining its editorial autonomy but using the sales, distribution, production and design resources of one of Canada's most established publishers.
In explaining the change, Jan Walter, a partner of the publishing company, noted that MW&R's vision for the future and its current terms with Stoddart were not compatible. "We had hoped to arrive at a different business arrangement with Stoddart, but we couldn't come to an agreement on a new model, so we approached McClelland & Stewart," explained Walter, who used to work at M&S. "People's priorities change... and Jack Stoddart was very cooperative in making [the transition] happen," Walter continued.
The Toronto-based publisher, which just celebrated its 10-year anniversary, will sever all ties with Stoddart Publishing, formerly the majority shareholder in MacFarlane Walter & Ross. Under the agreement, McClelland & Stewart will acquire all the unpublished projects currently under contract to MacFarlane Walter & Ross and most of its previously published works. The new company will remain in MW&R's Hazelton Ave. office, and no staff will be let go. Stoddart will retain 10 titles, including such notables as Boom, Bust & Echo and Boom, Bust & Echo 2000 by Daniel K. Foote.
"We're very excited to be forming this new association, and we look forward to working with MacFarlane Walter & Ross and its authors to bring a distinguished list to the widest possible audience," Avie Bennett, chairman of M&S, told PW.
